It was a very special occasion to honour in a very tangibleway a man of the enriched soil of St. Paul’s village, who dedicated his entire adult life to the advancement of his fellow men and fellow women in the total development of the young nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Douglas told hundreds of villagers, government officials, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps.
Speaking at the ceremony, at which wreaths were laid following the unveiling, Prime Minister Douglas said the day was historic as it marked National Heroes Day and the 90th Anniversary of the birth of the Rt. Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, First National Hero and who is also regarded as “Father of the Nation.”
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St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. DenzilLlewellyn Douglas (l) and Mrs. Etsu Bradshaw-Caines, lone surviving daughter offormer Chief Minister, First Premier, First National Hero and Father of the Nation, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw unveils the statue asa light drizzle fell and a rainbow appeared during the ceremony at the new Bradshaw Memorial Park
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“We pay homage to him in this inauguration ceremony duringwhich the monument have been unveiled at this special site, the Bradshaw Memorial Parkwhich also has been dedicated with honour of his outstanding life and service to all of his people in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.Indeed this icon of a man can rightfully be styled as “ PAPA Bradshaw, Fatherof the Nation.”
Prime Minister said however it was “a moment of sadnessbecause Mr. Bradshaw did not do what he has achieved by himself.” “As we reflect on the life of this great man, we would all agree that the majority of parents of this nation would wish the very best for their children, and would work diligently to provide for and guide theirchildren. Mary Jane Francis was one of those mothers. She saw in her son, at an early age, the spark of greatness and spared no effort to do the best that shecould to guide the young Robert.
Indeed, he did not disappoint her. Her employment as a domestic servant in the home of one of the planters influencedhis early life, helped to shape his perception on social and economic issues affecting working people. For this we are thankful, because his early experiences and exposure for the environment of social and economic disparity between workers, the masses, and the elite of this country did set in motion aseries of events that have changed the destiny of this country forever,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor salutes ashe is about to lay a wreath at the statue of the First National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw |
He continued: “Certainly, any young person of today, male or female, can hold Robert L. Bradshaw as an outstanding role model. No one could doubt what his commitment and his vision; no one could doubt what his belief inthe power of the people was.
His quest to unify the people towards the rightand noble cause stands as a significant legacy of his life’s work, and it is such attributes that we would want to instill in all of our young people oftoday.
His passion to change the circumstances of the masses passed him through various trials and tribulations all of which were to temper his form, his style and capabilities, all of course working together to mold himinto an outstanding leader of his people.”
“His leadership throughout the internationally famous13-week strike of 1948, and his insistence that his followers should always conduct themselves in a lawful and peaceful manner, no matter how tough the struggle became, did earn him the enduring respect of his people, the region,and that of His Late Majesty King George VI and the members of the Royal family,”said Dr.
Douglas.
From the pursuits of fighting for better wages and working conditions in the sugar cane industry and the fight for fairness against colonialism, Robert L. Bradshaw became an important personage in building astrong and effective Labour Movement consisting of a Trades and Labour Union and a Labour Party that would sustain the fight against the socio-economic and political oppressors of the masses.
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| Deputy Governor of Nevis,Mr. Eustace John about to lay a wreath at the statue of First National Hero and Father of the Nation, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw |
“Such qualities that he possessed were to thrust him on to the regional stage at a time when the embers of the political growth andmaturity of the masses were beginning to glow with persistence. It was at thistime when he became involved with the Regional Integration Movement through the West Indies Federation and the establishment of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. He remained strongly committed at home while leading demonstrations against the Colonial Office ashe sought the right of the people to be involved in the process of appointmentof Governors and Administrators of this country,” said Dr. Douglas.
He also said that when Bradshaw was elected to the Leeward Islands Legislative Council, heused the regional stage as a launch pad to greater regional service and carried that same zeal to the functioning of the West Indies Federation, to CARIFTA andalso of course to CARICOM. Always a very strong advocate for regional unity, Bradshaw willingly gave up his leadership of his country’s government to join the West Indies Federal Government as its only Minister of Finance, “so that we might make astrong contribution to the development of the Federation.”
“One of the truly sad experiences of his life was that hiseffort did not come to fruition. But, he did not despair, he did not relent, he did not give up,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who further pointed out that “these experiences were to develop hisfocus on moving the country towards a state of independence as was evidenced through serving his country as Chief Minister and Premier of an emerging nation moving towards political independence and taking the country to a semi-autonomous framework called “Statehood” that is in association with Great Britain.”
He said that perhaps some of the most important challenges that Bradshaw tackled involved the rescue of the sugar industry at a point whensugar was experiencing a very severe decline in economic fortunes. “This was amove that eventually led to the nationalization of the sugar lands, andbeginning the process of diversifying the National economy of St. Kitts andNevis,”
said Prime Minister Douglas, who added that it is out of this quest tosecure the economic viability of the country that St. Kitts and Nevis saw thestart of the tourism industry.
~~Adz:Left~~ “We saw the start up and the expansion of the National BankGroup of Companies, the expansion in physical infrastructure, our deep waterport, our International Airport. We saw infrastructure in particular in water and electricity development, theestablishment of a light-manufacturing sector that was supported first by the National Provident Fund, later renamed as the Social Security Scheme of St.Kitts and Nevis.
His administration it was that laid the foundation for the social revolution in this country ineducation, in shelter and in appropriate health care,”
touted Dr. Douglas. He said that having secured the socio-economic framework to move this country to the next political level, Sir Robert’s time on this earthwas cut short. “But he had left a strong legacy for others to follow in the Labour Movement.
He had left a legacy that pointed to the continued enlightenment and empowerment of the masses, and the need for everyone to strive untiringly for self-reliance and social responsibility in laying thefoundation for our political independence. He left a legacy of hard work,commitment and passion that should transcend everything that we do as a proud people of St. Kitts and Nevis. He was a giant among his peers in Caribbean leaders – and a man who gave his all towards Caribbean integration,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He also stated that Our First National Hero did not just believe in things of the Caribbean, but was one with a global perspective as well. “He had a fundamental belief in the right of the black race to be equal and was always delighted whenever he spoke of the contributions of his race to human civilization. As we continue to commemorate the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, let us all as a people reject vehemently the belief that our race and class, the working class is inferior to that of the planter class, which our National Hero fought throughout his entire adult life,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who added: “Let us today be insightful as a people. Let us be aware that today that same class is being presented to us in another form and just as our First National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Bradshaw rejected and defeated them so too, we must do today and in the future here in this country, St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“Our First National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw has left a proud legacy for the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party,which the present leadership is proud to associate with” said Prime Minister Douglas.
