Cecil "Moonlight" Roberts was born in St. Kitts on September 27th, 1927. His educational foundation was laid at the Irish Town Primary School and consolidated at the Basseterre Boys' School under the tutelage of Mr. S.G. Beach. At age 13, Cecil left school and went to learn a trade in carpentry at Mr. Weekes' Carpenters Shop for an allowance of two pence (2 p) per week. However, he credits Mr. Sam Byron, a more experienced carpenter then, as the man who actually taught him some of the finer skills of the trade, in addition to many principles of life. The years which followed saw him moving away from carpentry to work as Gardener and Butler for Mr. & Mrs. Branch.

Throughout the 1940's and 50's Cecil Roberts was an active member of both the St. Kitts Workers League and the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union. It was during this turbulent period of his life that he actively participated in the demonstration against Governor Greening in 1947 - 48 and became very much involved in Operation Blackburn in 1950.

Cecil Roberts went on to serve for many years as a Union Representative at the Sugar Factory and was also involved in the campaign leading up to the first popular election in 1952 under Adult Suffrage. A major turning point in the life of Cecil Roberts came in 1965 when he became a foundation member of the Peoples Action Movement after he unsuccessfully challenged C.A. Paul Southwell for the Presidency of the Trade Union following Robert Bradshaw's departure from the island to serve as Finance Minister of the Federation Government of the West Indies.

"Moonlight" as he was affectionately known went on to become greatly involved in sports and culture, distinguishing himself as one of the most prominent and powerful grassroots political activist in St. Kitts, stirring and shaping the times in a life of service to his community.