BASSETERRE St. Kitts, May 3rd 2011 (CUOPM) – Grandchildren and children of National Heroes Their Excellencies Sir Robert L. Bradshaw, Sir C.A Paul Southwell and Sir Joseph were among persons laying wreaths at the graveside of fallen stalwarts of the Labour Movement.
At the Springfield Cemetery, current Labour leaders paid tribute to the sterling contribution and legacy of those who laid the foundation for the social, political and economic development of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Eight-year-old Araminta Bradshaw-Williams and seven-year-old Carla Bradshaw-Williams laid the wreath on the grave of their grandfather, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw; 13-year-old Phoenix Southwell laid the wreath on the grave of his grandfather, The Right Excellent Sir C. A. Paul Southwell and Prudence France on the grave of her father, The Right Excellent Sir Joseph N. France.
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Hon. Sam Condor and Senior Minister and Chairman of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris; President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Mr. Clifford Thomas and General Secretary of the Union, Mr. Batumba Tak, highlighted the presence of the two youngest grandchildren of the late Sir Robert Bradshaw.
“We believe that they – the daughters of the late Isis Bradshaw - are old enough to begin to appreciate the tremendous work and accomplishment of their grandfather and we are very honoured that they are with us for the first time in their lives and I hope it starts a tradition that we see them every year,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who praised Sir Robert as the Founding Father of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Even though he was not alive and present to see this nation move into nationhood, nevertheless he had laid a very solid foundation for what was realized on the 19th September 1983. He has been the Father of this Nation in several ways,” said Dr. Douglas, pointing to Sir Robert’s leadership of the Labour Movement – the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union.
“He was a Labour leader in the region and one who understood the workings of the Labour Movement generally throughout the World and made a very tangible contribution; he was also a Political Leader who rose from obscurity to hold the hold the highest political office in St. Kitts and Nevis first and Chief Minister and then as First Premier and rose to international prominence.
“We remember him for laying the foundation – the economic, social and political foundation that St. Kitts and Nevis has advanced to today and so we will remember him not only today but also in the hearts and lives of the ordinary people of St. Kitts and Nevis for the tremendous service that he has given to our people,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who noted that it was as a result of a scholarship that Sir Robert Bradshaw has personally provided to him to attend the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School in 1965, thus afforded him a rare opportunity to get a secondary education,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Hon. Sam Condor who succeeded The Right Excellent Sir Joseph N. France as Parliamentary Representative, described Sir Joseph “as the personification and embodiment of the Labour Movement and the rock of the Labour Movement (who) never wavered in his philosophy and his commitment to the upliftment of the ordinary folks of this country.”
“Never was his motive or agenda questioned in terms of his contribution to the development of this country,” said Minister Condor, who recalled the motto of the Labour Party “For the good that we can do.”
Later in paying tribute to Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell, Minister Condor said Sir Paul is responsible for modernizing the St. Kitts and Nevis economy.
“As the Minister of Trade, Industry, Commerce and Tourism and Development, this modern economy that we see in St. Kitts started with Paul Southwell,” said Minister Condor, who said all the development on Frigate Bay, as well as the Southeast Peninsula “was a dream of Southwell before he died.”
“The workers of this country want to think him as we celebrate today. We want to thank him for all the work that he did ad one should recall that the industrial site has been named in his honour because he was the person who pioneered the manufacturing industry in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Deputy Prime Minister Condor.
Mr. Condor also pointed to Mr. Southwell’s contribution to the sub-regional integration movement, noting that he was died in St. Lucia in 1979 immediately after chairing a meeting of the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers at which the decision was made to change the name to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
“As we celebrate the OECS Treaty, the stamp of Paul Southwell is there on every page and on every line. We want to thank him for his service to this country. He has rendered outstanding service to this country and we also remember his contribution to the arts and sports,” said Mr. Condor.
Wreaths were also laid at the graves of former Premier, Attorney General and United Nations Ambassador, His Excellency Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore; former Minister of Agriculture and Labour and Ambassador Mr. E. St. John Payne; former Minister of Education and Youth, the late Hon. Clarence Fitzroy Bryant and the late General Secretary of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Mr. Fidel O’Flaherty.
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