Today we celebrate the 23rd Anniversary of our nation's Independence.

This year we celebrate our Independence under the theme, "Partnership, Discipline and Productivity for a Transformed Country." This is reflective of the current environment of socio-economic transition existing in St.

Kitts and Nevis. Importantly, it directs our attention to the need for heightened individual commitment to positive change and enhanced productivity, as well as the need for collective and dedicated effort by every segment of our society and economic interests.

Our 23rd Anniversary of Independence provides another opportunity for each of us to reflect on our achievements, and significantly, to think about the future and what we need to do to ensure continued socio-economic growth and development. Without doubt, special attention will have to be placed upon the young people of our country, especially with regard to training and education aimed at meeting the evolving global economic environment. Our young people not only must be globally competitive educationally, but it is important that they are engaged in the task of nation building.

In a post-sugar economic environment, the Federation of St. Kitts

and Nevis has continued to strengthen its economic diversification processes, being cognizant of the impact of geo-political conflicts and interests, as well as the difficulties created by natural hazards. Health, poverty alleviation, gender equity, youth development, education and human resource development are to occupy positions of priority in like manner to economic concerns.

A holistic approach must give greater certainty of success and of enabling our people to develop a strong diversified and highly sustainable economy that would address our nation's needs in the medium and long terms.

In other words, empowering our people to take advantage of emerging opportunities would be of essential focus. Many of these issues are addressed in the European Commission-adopted Post-Sugar "Adaptation Strategy" that outlines major socio-economic goals and challenges faced by the country. This Strategy seeks to cushion the effects of the closure of the sugar industry by supporting diversification, economic competitiveness and the principles of empowerment.

Fellow citizens, this year's Independence is celebrated, also, in the context of the deepening Caribbean integration movement and our full commitment and adoption of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. On another level, the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the OECS held historic significance in the raising of the OECS flag for the first time, and significantly, the agreement by heads of government to pursue the proposed OECS Economic Union by next year.

This OECS advancement is of special significance to St. Kitts and Nevis having been the venue for the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre that brought into being the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. It is fitting that our nation is again at center-stage of such historic developments for the OECS member countries. Certainly, these developments will have positive impact on the lives of Kittitians and Nevisians, and would enable the OECS to deal more effectively with global challenges.

It is within such context that this 23rd Anniversary of Independence must point us to the need for positive thinking; looking towards the future with a mindset of collaboration, dedication, prudent action, and of building intra and extra-regional partnerships for the benefit of our people. In the emerging highly competitive global economic environment, it is critical that we understand that persons of productive capacity must be cognizant of their contribution towards the further development of our nation. We must re-examine our individual values and determine what and how individual change can be more effectively applied to nation building. Obviously, it is our collective endeavours that will make a success of our quest to achieve our national aspirations.

Fellow citizens, residents and friends, a critical path towards greater economic progress and social development now lies in the generation of greater economic activity within the Private Sector. The economic environment that exists today dictates that our people must become more involved in the productive sector by pursuing opportunities in the micro and small business segments of our business community.

It is for such reason that the Empowerment Fund facilitated through the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis has been established. Today, as we proceed in the development of a service-oriented economy led by Tourism, Financial Services and Information Communication Technology (ICT), supported by diversified agriculture and light manufacturing, there are emerging opportunities for citizens to be creative and to become entrepreneurs and masters of your destiny.

This kind of commitment must also be supported by enhancement in our social discipline, a re-commitment to enhance the value of community life, and of engendering greater focus among our young people. Community-based organizations must be an integral part of developing discipline and positive outlook among our young people. While sports provide an important avenue to achieve this, it is also important to explore other critical areas of endeavour within our communities that will help to develop the Kittitian and Nevisian youth along a productive path of individual and community development. Church and family influences are also of critical importance. I believe that both must provide consistent messages, and must work together to develop programs that are instructive, that give moral support and enhance life skills among our youth.

Fellow citizens and residents, in charting a way forward in todays environment, the Government has to be committed to several key matters, in addition to those already alluded. Among these are the following:

1. Continue the fiscal improvement programmes aimed at increasing collection

of revenue and reducing public Expenditure, while focusing on key areas of public sector commitments;

2. Increase prospects for local and foreign capital investment projects,

~~Adz:Right~~especially in the areas of financial services, large quality-oriented tourism projects, small business enterprises inclusive of craft and agro-based projects, as well as information-based enterprises, housing development programmes for our former sugar workers, low and middle income earners, especially our public servants;

3. Pursue initiatives in the context of sustainable development, involving

key stakeholders in relevant areas, and in the context of securing economic advantage in key segments of our economy;

4. Increase attention to environmental matters aimed at reducing

degradation, and for the purpose of supporting our tourism product and the enhancement of the quality of life of our citizens and residents;

5. The continued fine-tuning of the education curricula of primary,

secondary and tertiary levels to ensure that they are relevant and address perceivable needs of our developing nation, especially within the skilled services sector;

6. Enhancing awareness and education relative to chronic non-communicable

diseases, HIV/AIDS, and the promotion of health and fitness programmes among our entire population;

7. Address internal security issues that help to enhance the social

environment, as well as the environment for business. In this regard a comprehensive strategic plan is presently being implemented to address the myriad of practical issues that are of concern to our security forces, with regard to their conditions of service; and also to address the concerns of the public with regard to the quality of service performance, professionalism and productivity of the security forces in providing timely reliable, efficient and effective services to the citizens of our country;

8. Begin the process of consultation, which would realize our commitment for

a new Pensions Act that, would among other things, will empower improve the Non-established workers of the Public Service and we will continue the wide public consultation that will lead to Electoral Reform and the enhancement of our democratic processes in the Federation.

Fellow citizens and residents, as we celebrate our 23rd Anniversary of Independence, we cannot forget to express our thanks and appreciation to the many persons who have worked diligently in various capacities to bring about a better community and national experience for all of us. On this occasion, our attention is focused on those who have received this years Medal of Honour Awards. I make special acknowledgement of the following:

Details of these commendable individuals are being aired on our local radio stations.

~~Adz:Left~~Let us also give special acknowledgement to all those who received Community Awards distributed on National Heroes Day, 16th September, which incidentally marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of our First National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw. This date also commenced one year of activities which will include the erection of a Monument in his birth village of St Paul's and the transformation of his home at Fortlands, Basseterre, "Bradshaw's House" into a Museum that will display his Papers, his collection of Arts and Artifacts that tell the full story of his achievements from a simple and humble life of sacrifice, commitment, dedication and hard work that is a powerfull message to the youths of this fair land of beauty, our proud Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

May I also use this occasion to publicly thank our retiring public servants at all levels of the Service who have served this nation with distinction and longevity. In particular, allow me to recognize the former Attorney General, Frank Delano Bart who retired as our Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs after 11 years of dedicated and successful service. May I also inform that Mr Frank Delano Bart will serve in a new capacity as General Counsel to the Government of St Kitts and Nevis and as the new Ambassador Designate and Permanent Representative of the St Kitts and Nevis Mission to the United Nations. Mr Bart will replace His Excellency Dr Joseph Christmas who has given dedicated service to the Federation in that capacity for the last six (6) years. Dr Christmas will return to St Kitts and Nevis in a new capacity to assist in the expanding development program of St Kitts and Nevis.

Fellow citizens, and residents, in spite of the tremendous challenges this nation and the region have faced, St. Kitts and Nevis has done well, and we must be proud to be citizens of this wonderful country. Let there be no misunderstanding, however; the challenges ahead are likely to be formidable.

I am confident, nevertheless, that we are capable of meeting these challenges. Recognizing our resource limitations but the capacity of our people, I believe that with prudent planning and execution of our programs positive results will be achieved, and I believe, also, that with the commitment and collaboration of our social partners, significant national aspirations are achievable.

In closing, I wish to charge the citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis to internalize the ideas embodied in the theme of our Independence commemoration. Let all of us, with the guiding hand of the Almighty, rededicate ourselves to our beloved and proud nation. Let us pledge to work together in the interest of our nation and to embody all our endeavours in the spirit of love, peace and understanding.

Let us all pray for the protection and guidance of the Almighty as we strive to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Happy Independence Day 2006!