BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRESIDENT of the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association Charles L.A. Wilkin, CMG, QC, told graduates of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) that they should assist in the shaping of the Federation’s future and be prepared to embrace new possibilities.
“The transformation from a sugar economy to one of tourism and services is a massive undertaking that is at an early but promising stage. However, in this and in our development, generally, we face huge challenges. It is important that you be aware of these challenges. You are the future and can and should help to shape that future,” Wilkin said.
Wilkin was at the time delivering the Keynote Address to 213 young men and women at the CFBC 22nd Commencement Ceremony held yesterday (Nov. 28) at the school’s campus on Burdon Street.
He told the graduates that they are the beneficiaries of an education system which has prepared them to take on the world, and that each of them with the right attitude, application, drive and foresight could be anything they want to be in their choice of career.
“Because of your training and education, you can transcend the limitations of coming from one of the smallest countries on earth; the possibilities are limitless,” he added.
The Queen’s Counsel urged the graduates to resist the temptation of splashing money on fancy cars and ‘bling’ as soon as they begin to work, and to consider investing first in land “because soil don’t spoil”.
Wilkin told them that the role that they should play in helping the nation to achieve its vast possibilities is counterbalanced in the Mission Statement of the College; part which calls for the preparation of students to make “lifelong contributions to their communities”.
“We are a very young nation. I put it in perspective this way. St. Kitts-Nevis has been independent for 27 years. Your College is 22 years old. The University I attended just celebrated its 800th anniversary. Despite our youthful existence, St. Kitts-Nevis has made significant progress in terms of improvements of the standard of living of its people. We have quickly graduated in this regard to the middle rank of nations.
He however noted that the Federation is currently at the crossroads and the nation has to change direction or risk losing all the gains made since attaining independence in 1983. And new possibilities must be embraced in order to do this.
Wilkin explained that the nation would regress unless there is a substantial change of attitudes.
“Attitude to each other, attitude to politics, attitude to outsiders, attitude to service, attitude to the environment, attitude to authority, attitude to road traffic, attitude to noise making, attitude to government...all require change,” he added.
He explained that declining attitudes had contributed to the rise in violent crime and the growing disorder, which are the greatest to the country and its economy.
Using the recent robbery of the 17 tourists along the road that leads to Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park to emphasise his point, Wilkin said, “While they may have returned, the cruise lines could easily leave again, and permanently. The pillars of our economy are tourism and offshore education services. Neither of these will survive if crime continues to grow to the level of an insurgency which it is close reaching. One more attack on visitors and it could be all over with devastating consequences for all of our people.”
He told the graduates that they could create a change in this situation with the employment of two things; one with immediate possible effect and the other with long term benefits.
“The immediate action you can take is to be role models for and to persuade your young contemporaries to stay away from or to cease involvement in gangs and criminal activity. The long term action stems from your position as the next generation of parents. There is no doubt that two of the major causes of the current crime wave are the lack of and poor parenting and children having children. You can reverse these causes for the next generation of youths by delaying your procreation of children until you are ready and able to nurture them properly and give them the love, guidance and support that they need. You can carry this message also to your peers.
“The second greatest threat is the culture of reliance on government. The government has provided substantially in the past 27 years for the welfare and basic needs of our community in terms of healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure and sport. Much of this has contributed to the improved quality of life. A heavy reliance may have been understandable in the early years of nationhood, but it has come at a cost which is no longer sustainable. We are as a nation up to our neck in debt. The recession has exacerbated the effect but it was going to happen anyway.
“We must end the unhealthy attitude that government must be all things for all people and must for all needs. An offshoot of this has been the attitude (boasted of openly by many) that you don’t have to pay for its services. Hence VAT, increase in taxes on services, government layoffs, cost cutting, price increases and vigorous collection of government receivables. You will not therefore have the government largesse that your parents received.”
Wilkin congratulated the graduates on their success and left them with a quotation, saying, “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations our possibilities become limitless,” while urging them to pursue their utmost possibilities with fervor and diligence.
Among those present at the Commencement Ceremony were the Governor-General, His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian; Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas; Minister of Education Senator Nigel Carty, members of the Diplomatic Corps; and parents/guardians and other family members of the graduates.
