The disaster took place some 34 years ago, on 1st August 1970, where some 238 persons lost their lives. The Premier, who was accompanied by his deputy, the Hon Malcolm Guishard, observed that they had laid wreaths at the shrine in order to encourage other persons to memorialize and recognised the importance that their love ones played in the history of the island.
“It is conceivable that we could have a authorised in a way from Cabinet this issue, but we want people to feel that this is their way of showing their gratitude and to pay their respect to their love ones,” added Premier Amory. “I think it is an important activity. It is important that we recognise the persons who have created what we are now enjoying by their hard work, by their dedication, by their patriotism.”
According to the Nevisian Leader, “I think above all, no one can say that the persons whom we are memorializing today were not patriots. We know of the struggles to which they came; we know of the hardships which they had to face; we know of the challenges which they overcame and we know that in seeking to over come those challenges and their struggles, by plying their trade with St Kitts trying to make a living for their families that they lost their lives.”
“We want to ensure that our people do not forget this because this was a turning point in the history of Nevis and Nevisians everywhere. I want to encourage all persons to take this opportunity to pay respect to their love ones,” ended Premier Amory.
