PM Douglas celebrates 56th Birthday

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

PM Douglas blows out his candles and wishes for many more years of health and strength

The Prime Minister spent the first half of the day visiting various primary schools including, Newton Ground and Saddlers Primary where he was warmly welcomed by the students and staff of both institutions. A number of teachers showered him with gifts as they shared a brief moment of his special day.

The Prime Minister told SKNVibes that he is honoured to reach such a milestone in his life and is equally pleased that he was able to have served the people of St. Kitts-Nevis in various capacities. He also indicated how he planned to pass his special day.

“I intend to relax a bit this evening. In fact, I had the opportunity to respond to an invitation from the [Resident] Ambassador of the [Republic of China on] Taiwan to a reception held in my honour for my birthday. I plan to celebrate with my colleagues, family members and friends. Also, I will be visiting those persons who are also celebrating their birthday today, and I am also expecting some visits from them.

PM Douglas accepts gifts from staff of Saddlers Primary

“We have come a long way as a people. I was born at a time when infant mortality rate was very high and I could have been a victim of the poor healthcare conditions of the day. But I am grateful that I’m still alive. I would like to say thanks to the midwife, Mrs. Rouse, who delivered me in St. Paul’s where I grew up. I would also like to thank my parents (now deceased) especially my father who, after my mother died, was able to care for me. To my brothers and sisters and the members of my extended family particularly my grandmother and aunt living in Curacao, who treated us like their own, I would really like to say thanks.”

PM Douglas thanked his colleagues and teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, who “have helped to nurture me into what I have now become”. He also thanked the people of Constituency 6 for giving him the privilege of representing them in Parliament.

Douglas received a B. Sc in 1977 and his Medical Degree in 1984. Up until he was elected as the nation’s leader, Dr. Douglas practised as a family physician, providing not just medical attention, but lending a compassionate ear and supportive shoulder to a large part of the population.

Dr. Douglas was the first Young Labour Representative on the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party National Executive, became the Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party in 1989 and was sworn in as the second Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis immediately following the July 1995 General Elections. He has since been re-elected to serve his country in the March 2000 and October 2004 General Elections.