“First and foremost I think the country’s first Prime Minister Dr. Rt. Hon Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds should have been recognized and named as a national Hero a long time ago,” said Grant.
BASSETERRE St.Kitts, August 28th 2011 - Opposition party LEADER Lindsay Grant is calling on the government to involve the community and to be more transparent in their selection of the country’s National Heroes. Grant alluded to what he describes as the petty politics in the selection and naming of the country’s national heroes which is celebrated in just over 2 weeks on the 16th of September National Heroes day. He said more people should be recognized as National Heroes.
“First and foremost I think the country’s first Prime Minister Dr. Rt. Hon Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds should have been recognized and named as a national Hero a long time ago,” said Grant.
“The first Premier of Nevis Dr. Simeon Daniel also should be made a national hero and I am of the strong view that Kim Collins’ unprecedented achievements on the world scale warrants that he to be recognized as a National Hero,” Grant opined
“The government should institute a much more transparent policy in the selection of these National Heroes and the policy must include significant community involvement as based on the National Heroes that have been selected over the years one would think that you have to be a labor politician to be considered,” Grant said
Since the National Heroes Act was passed in 1998 only 3 persons have been named National Heroes. The 3 individuals are the Robert .L Bradshaw, Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell and Joseph N. France. Bradshaw was the country’s First Premier and Dominican born Southwell served as Chief Minister as well as Premier from 1978 to 1979. Nevis born France was a long time and well beloved legislator. All 3 were integral members of the Labor Party Movement.
According to some reports coming from certain corners former Premier and Labour Party Leader and Legal Luminary Lee. L. Moore and former Labour Minister of Education Clarence Fitzroy Bryant are among the short list of persons that are being considered for the status of National Hero.
In responding Grant said “If indeed Mr. Moore and Mr. Bryant are being considered it only helps to galvanize my point that the naming and selection of heroes is deeply politicized as much as we appreciate Mr. Bryant’s contribution to our Education system and Mr. Moore’s contribution to politics and the legal profession, their is no way that any right thinking citizen would ever think that either Moore or Bryant did more for this country than Sir Kennedy who led us into independence. The government needs to seriously de-politicize this very important activity.”
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