By La'Toya Webster
Writer-SKNVibes.com
Basseterre, St. Kitts -September 19, 2006 is the 23rd birthday of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
This year's independence will be held under the theme "Partnership, Discipline and Productivity for a Transformed Country."
People from all walks of life and persons of all religious denominations will celebrate independence in whatever affair. Some attend the parade that is held at Warner Park which is made up of different types of groups and organizations. While some take a cool lime on the beach or stay at home and catch up with other activities.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Defense Force and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force are expected to be joined on parade by a contingent from the Royal British Navy.
Some of the activities for this year's independence celebration are the Prime Minister's Lecture series to be presented by Dr. Jessica Byron of Nevis, professor in the Faculty of Government and International Affairs at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.
National Heroes Day will feature, among other things, the traditional flag raising ceremonies in communities around St. Kitts, the Independence Fun Run and Community Awards Ceremony.
Also Gala Night of Independence, the National Day of Prayer, the State Service at the Zion Moravian Church, the Embassy of Venezuela 10K Marathon, and, for the first time, the Digicel Independence Freedom Concert.
Digicel Wireless one of the mobile telecommunications providers in St. Kitts and Nevis made the announcement of the Digicel Freedom Concert earlier this month.
The concert will be held to mark the celebration of the Federation's 23 year of Independence and will feature the sounds of Reggae's "Royal Family" Morgan Heritage.
The concert will be free of charge and will take place at the Frigate Bay grounds opposite Timothy Beach Resort, on Monday, September, 18.
The concert will begin at 7 p.m. and go on until 1 a.m. and will also featuring our very own local artists such as the reining monarch Konris Maynard, Nu Vybes Band and the Ultra Sonics Band out of Nevis.
Stanley Franks, a representative of the Independence Committee applauded what Digicel is doing and said that the country celebrating its 23rd birthday and Digicel celebrating its first year of business is significant.
"Digicel has joined us in this celebration, this indicative of the understanding of what Digicel has for us as a people," Franks said at a previous press conference.
The National Flag of St. Kitts and Nevis features green for our fertile lands, yellow for our year-round sunshine, black for our African heritage, and red for our struggle from slavery through colonialism to independence. It also displays two white stars on a black diagonal bar, symbols of hope and liberty.
The national bird is the brown pelican, Pelecanus Occidentalis. In its youth, it is brown on the head, neck and upper parts of the body, and mostly white below. As it matures, the majority of the body becomes dark brown while the upper part of the head turns white. During the postnuptial molt the adult's neck turns white. The neck and head are not extended during flight. Brown pelicans are sometimes solitary feeders but may also be found in small flocks as they feed on schools of fish near the surface of the sea. They can be found throughout the West Indies and in the sub-tropic regions of the Americas. They nest in colonies along the coast in low trees and in bushes.
The national flower is the poinciana or flamboyant, named after Monsieur de Poincy, the first French Governor of St. Kitts, who is said to have introduced it to the region. Its scientific name is Delonix Regia and it is said to have originated in Madagascar. The flamboyant is one of the most striking trees of the tropics, with its umbrella-shaped crown and its compound deciduous leaves, and red and yellow scalloped flowers followed by long, black seedpods. It blooms from May to August.
