Nevis Government clears the air on knighthood for island’s first Premier
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| Cabinet Secretary to the Nevis Island Administration Mr. Ashley Farrell |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 13, 2007) -- Cabinet Secretary to the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Mr. Ashley Farrell, in a televised statement on NTV Channel 8, on Tuesday November 13, 2007, shed light on the proposed knighthood of Dr. Simeon Daniel, Nevis' first Premier.
He cited that the Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry had taken the necessary steps to have the honour bestowed just after his Administration had entered office one year ago and was awaiting word from the authority authorized to review, approve or disapprove nominations.
“When the Nevis Reformation Party regained power in July 2006, one of the Administration’s first decisions was that Dr. Daniel should be fittingly honoured. We felt and still feel that Dr. Daniel as one of the architects of the independence of our Federation should have been knighted at the same time that this special honour was bestowed on the first Prime Minister of the Federation, The Right Honourable Sir Kennedy Simmond.
“Fellow Nevisians, in 2006, the matter of knighthood for Dr. Simeon Daniel, was raised by the Hon. Premier Joseph Parry with the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas. The subject of Dr. Daniel’s knighthood was also mentioned at a meeting of the two Cabinets. Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Daniel was subsequently submitted to the Federal Cabinet. So Dr. Daniel has been nominated for knighthood. However, we have to await the decision of those authorised to review such nominations. I must point out that such nominations are not normally made public until they have been approved,” he said.~~Adz:Right~~
The issue of knighthood for Dr. Daniel had surfaced recently when Opposition Leader Hon. Mark Brantley hinted that the call for knighthood of Dr. Daniel was made by him during his first sitting in the Federal Parliament last month.
Mr. Farrell said an apparent attempt to mislead the people of Nevis and St. Kitts into believing that the move to knight Dr. Daniel was initiated by his nomination, the NIA was forced to make its position public on the issue.
“The behavoiur of the Hon. Mark Brantley in attempting to mislead the people of Nevis, St. Kitts and the world, that it is he who initiated this nomination has forced the NIA to clear the air and set the record straight. It is indeed regrettable that this matter is being used by some for political mileage and advantage. I close by saying that those who are elected to lead must be responsible and lead honourably and honestly rather than seek to deceive and mislead,” he said.
Dr. Daniel had served as the first Premier of Nevis from 1983-1992 and has been referred to as the architect of a modern Nevis. He served the Nevis Reformation Party as its leader for 22 years 1970-1992.
