Oldest citizen celebrates 110th birthday
Federation recognizes her with Medal of Honour

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – YESTERDAY (Nov. 19), the nation celebrated with Florence Baker, the oldest citizen in the Federation, and showed its appreciation for her invaluable, long-lived contribution to the nation during her 110 years.

Cheers of Happy Birthday rang throughout Baker’s Cayon residence where members of the Golden Age Club and residents of the area along with family and friends offered many gifts.

Students from the neighbouring Cayon High and Pre-schools came out to wish Baker a happy birthday while other well-wishers joined in the singing of the birthday song.

In what was noted as the highlight of the morning, Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian officially presented Baker with a Medal of Honour, an award that was to be received as a part of the 25th Independence Celebrations for her community service.

The Governor General indicated that he was honoured to make the presentation as he has never given a Medal of Honour to anyone of so many years.

Parliamentary representative for the area, Hon. Cedric Liburd applauded Baker for her new award and thanked her on behalf of the government for her great contributions to her community and to the nation at large.

“We can only imagine what it was like living in those days without proper water, housing and electricity, but she [Baker] survived.

She worked all of her days at Brighton’s Estate and lived a healthy life; in fact, she has never been admitted to the hospital. This is an indication of her strength and endurance, no doubt on a diet of local foods.

“Ms. Baker is living history both here in Cayon and in the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis. She has experienced the two World Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. She has experienced a shortage of food and supplies that came with that era.

She has experienced the Buckley’s Uprising in 1935 and the thirteen-week strike in 1948. What a woman; what a life!”

Minister Liburd commended her immediate and extended families, supporters and friends for being a “tower of strength” and for playing a major role in taking care of the most recent recipient of the National Medal of Honour.

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 Baker was born to Joseph Richards and Mary Daniel, and resided in Newtown Basseterre until she was taken to Cayon in a basket by her mother who was in search of a job on Brighton’s Estate.

As an adult Baker married and gave birth to three children, one of which died and another is overseas. The other daughter is 91 years old and lives with and cares for Baker.

Baker told SKNVibes she loves children and carolling and in the past went around to the different villages and estates to sing carols during the Christmas season.

“I remember the songs we used to sing on the estate... they were good songs; they had meaning. I want to thank God because truth is, it’s only God’s hand and his might have me here.”

When asked about tips for longevity in life, Baker counselled “It is very important for people to eat right and exercise; eat local food – that’s what I used to eat and I thank God for what he [has] done in my life.”