BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE whimpers of a newborn permeated the atmosphere at the Joseph N. France General Hospital after a bouncing baby boy drew his first breath, which coincided with the 26th Independence Anniversary of St. Kitts and Nevis.
At about 7:20 yesterday morning, Ray and Cynthia Daley brought forth seven-pound 14-ounce ‘Baby Daley’ and were extended congratulatory remarks by nurses and doctors on the addition to their family, and more specifically, on the Independence Baby title which is now attached to their son’s name.
Speaking exclusively with SKNVibes, Ray was overwhelmed with joy by his son’s birth, but noted a number of events prior to and after the birth which contributed to its surreal nature.
“It wasn’t in my mind at all that my son would be born on Independence Day. In 1983, I was in the park when the official ceremony marking our Independence was held and, 26 years later, I am here with my son who was born on Independence Day. It is a proud moment.”
Mommy Daley was obviously thankful that her child was delivered in perfect health and relieved that the ordeal, though short, was now over. She told SKNVibes that her son’s birth was scheduled for September 12 but was taken aback when her husband’s September 19 prediction became a reality.
Ray explained that he did his calculations and knew that his son would have been born on the 19th although not taking specific note of the significance of that day.
The proud father explained that he was not aware that celebrating the birth of Independence Babies had become a tradition, but rather suspected that the first ever Independence Baby was the only one to have her birth celebrated. He said what followed after his son’s birth was unexpected but welcomed.
“I wasn’t aware that it was something they had continued. This morning when he was born, the nurses said congratulations to both of us and I thought that was all there was to that. I didn’t think I would get a visit from the Prime Minister. He really caught me off guard.”
Also worthy of note, as Ray explained, is his wife’s relation to the St. Kitts and Nevis’s first Independence Baby.
“The first Independence Baby is my wife’s cousin, and now 26 years after she did the same thing that her cousin did 26 years ago. My sister called me and she was congratulating me and she said within the family we have a National Heroes’ Baby and an Independence Baby. My sister’s daughter - who is my niece – had a baby son on Heroes Day.”
In comments made during the Toasting Ceremony which took place at Camp Springfield following the Ceremonial Parade to mark the Federation’s 26th Independence Anniversary, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon Denzil L. Douglas publicly congratulated the Daleys on the addition to their family and wished Baby Daley a future filled with success.
“When I visited our hospital at Joseph N. France this morning - and I am yet to receive word out of my sister island of Nevis - I was informed to date that one young man had joined us in the form of a baby boy.
“We are proud of him and we hope that this country and all that it has to offer will bring this young boy, this baby boy through his childhood, through adolescence into adulthood, proud and prepared to take his stand among the proud citizens of this country and make St. Kitts and Nevis what it needs to be for the next 27 years. Today, we salute him and we congratulate his proud parents. We thank the nurses and the doctors who have worked to bring him into this world very, very safe and sound.”
Dr. Douglas declared it is his hope that Baby Daley would, while tender-aged, understand “his duty that he has to perform in this our beloved country”.
Baby Daley, who has yet to be named, joins his mother, father and siblings who are all eagerly anticipating his release from the hospital, when they will begin a new chapter in their lives.
