BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is said that “remembering the past gives power to the present” and it is with the tool of reflection that we, as a nation, chart a course for the next 12 months, being careful not to repeat mistakes and redoubling our efforts with the hope of topping past successes.
Now, let us take a look at some of the most memorable happenings in St. Kitts Nevis that occurred over the past 12 months.
January
During the first week of the year, Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Federal Parliament, the Hon. Mark Brantley, called for the Federation to cease celebrating mediocrity and for persons to be more accountable for their actions during 2011.
February
Operation Rescue, a movement initiated by a former minister of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party-run government, continued its mission and held a public meeting on February 3. And appearing on that platform was a youth parliamentarian named Kasim Queeley, who issued a clarion call for party-politics to be left by the wayside and that unity prevail in the land for the good of all.
March
The month of March came with its difficulties including the closure of the Clear Harbor, which left 131 individuals on the breadline.
The Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis’ first Governor General Sir Clement Arrindell, GCMG, GCVO, QC, departed this life on March 27. He was 79 years of age.
On a brighter note, 11 of St. Kitts’ exemplary women were presented awards for their work in different areas of societal development.
April
News of the tragic demise of any individual is enough to evoke concern and heartache. However, the April 7 slaying of the son of then Commissioner of Police Austin Williams gave rise to a widespread and prolonged outcry.
And, only one day later, the late Sir Clement Arrindell was laid to rest at the Springfield Cemetery.
May
A Christian group in St. Kitts, affiliated with Harold Camping, President of Family Radio Worldwide, went about the island spreading his message that the world would have ended on May 21.
The group endeavoured to get individuals to prepare themselves for the imminent doomsday.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Sidney E.V. Morris died on May 4 and was laid to rest in his hometown, Cayon, on May 12.
Political scientist, educator and former talk-show host Dr. Asyll Warner of Bird Rock passed away while undergoing advanced medical treatment.
June
In early June, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Sam Condor tabled The Gang (Prohibition and Prevention) Bill, 2011 before the Federal Parliament. The purpose of the legislation is to discourage and prosecute individuals involved in any gang-related activity.
She was 111 years-old and, in addition to that milestone, was named the oldest individual in the Federation. Florence Baker, who resided at Cayon, went to be with her Maker on June 2 while at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
St. Kitts hosted the 32nd Regular Meeting of Caribbean Heads of Government which was attended by, among others, CARICOM country Prime Ministers and Presidents. The meeting commenced on June 30 and concluded on July 4.
July
In this month, Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn was named successor of then Commissioner of Police Austin Williams. Born in St. Kitts-Nevis, Walwyn migrated during his early teenage and has extensive career in law-enforcement.
The announcement was welcomed by the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce which had been calling for the government to take specific measures to curb the spate of crime that was affecting the Federation.
July 11 was Election Day in Nevis and was shrouded in controversy.
The Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) and the Concerned Citizens Party (CCM) fielded five candidates each, one for each of the five constituencies. The NRP retained its power winning three of the five seats.
Prior to the elections however, the CCM complained and alleged that 200-plus names of legally-registered individuals were removed from the Voters’ List, thus disenfranchising them.
The CCM has refused to accept the results of the elections and has since filed an Election Petition before the court, which is scheduled for hearing in a matter of days.
The CIC, among others, has expressed its displeasure with the Nevis Elections and called for the removal of Pastor Leroy Benjamin from the post of Supervisor of Elections.
August
With the dawn of August came the full corporatisation of the Electricity Department into the St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd. (SKLEC).
Many expected that the changeover would reduce the many sporadic power outages which plagued the island. However, they continued and even increased over the ensuing months.
The CIC described the crime situation in St. Kitts-Nevis as having reached “crisis point” and called on the government to solicit the assistance of the Regional Security System (RSS) in an attempt to arrest the problem.
Having bid farewell to his rank and file members, Commissioner Williams passed the Baton of Authority over the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to COP Walwyn on August 31.
September
Just hours after COP Walwyn’s appointment, dissension within the Federal Cabinet manifested itself when the Prime Minister announced that he was stripping the Minister of National Security, Sam Condor, of his responsibility of the Police and Defence Forces and taking them unto himself.
The announcement followed news that Condor was denied access to state-owned media house ZIZ. He reportedly sought to make a national address surrounding the Prime Minister’s move and had to resort to making that address via a privately-owned media house.
Government officials, including Prime Minister Douglas, claimed that there was no directive given to deny Condor access to the media house and that he was not denied.
Months after being announced as the incoming President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), son of the soil Sir Dennis Byron was sworn in on September 1. The ceremony took place under the auspices of the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Prime Minister the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas and others.
The sporting-fraternity bade farewell to sports enthusiast and coach Elvis ‘STAR’ Browne who died on September 20. He was buried on September 29.
In a continued protest against what they term an illegitimate government, the Nevis Opposition boycotted the Opening of the Nevis Island Assembly.
The Federation celebrated its 28th Anniversary of Independence on September 19 in a traditional fashion. Also one Independence Day baby and three National Hero babies were welcomed to the Federation’s family.
Four individuals were announced as 2011’s National Award Honourees.
Kim Collins, who is also a member of the Relay Boys, represented the Federation well when he won three silver medals, one each at the IAAF World Challenge in Zagreb, Croatia, Men’s 100m Athletics Bridge in Slovakia and the Men’s 100m at the ISTAF meet in Berlin.
October
Issues surrounding the Social Security/Contec Beacon Heights project were ventilated in this monthr and was a topic of much debate across the Federation and even further afield.
The project is to see the construction of 191 homes and the first 10 residential spaces were to have been completed in July 2011. Contec was contracted to secure infrastructural development for this phase of the project and was issued millions of dollars by the Social Security Board.
According to the Social Security Director, $30M above the budgeted $50M was pumped into the project “with only the first $25 000 generated in sales”.
Of course, many members of the public became alarmed and expressed their unease and questioned the stability of the Social Security Fund. And according to the government, the Fund is in no danger and is as secure as could be.
Affectionately dubbed “The Relay Boys”, the Federation’s male relay team made its homeland proud by winning bronze in the Men’s 4X100m Relay of the IAAF World Championships on September 4 and silver at the XVI Pan American Games Relay Finals.
Kim Collins was at it again when he won the 100m Semi-Finals at the XVI PanAmerican Games in Mexico and gained a silver medal at the Finals.
November
The St. Kitts Branch of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Force changed leadership from Inspector Franklyn Belgrove to Acting Inspector Charles Smithen.
The Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) General Assembly was held in St. Kitts over the period November 7-11, during which Gold Coast, Australia and Hambantota, Sri Lanka entered bits to host the Commonwealth Games XXI. The bid was won by Australia.
Former Chairman of the Social Security Board and former minister in the People’s Action Movement (PAM) administration Richard Caines called for the resignation of the Board for its “mismanagement of funds and gross negligence”, as it relates to the Beacon Heights Project.
Holders of a government-issued $75M bond issue which matured during late November were asked by the government to forbear while the government consulted with its debt management team.
The bond holders were later given new exchange offers by the government.
December
Residents of the Federation benefitted from a government-imposed “EC$1 500 allowance on imports during this month and the permanent removal of the seven-day stay overseas to benefit from the EC$400 allowance”.
Benefits were also reaped from a one-day reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 17 percent to seven percent. Eighty businesses were reportedly registered to offer the reduced rate.
Following consultations, Cabinet gave permission for bakers to increase the price of their seven-ounce bread which was being sold for $1.50 to $2.
The 2012 Budget was presented in Parliament on December 13 and was boycotted by the members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. They also did not attend for the Budget Debate which followed, on the grounds that the government seems bent on preventing the passage of the Integrity in Public Life Bill.
The world’s largest ship, Allure of the Seas, docked at the Port Zante berthing facility, following which dignitaries and others were welcomed aboard.
Thousands of residents and visitors participated in St. Kitts’ 40th Carnival which, by all accounts, was a huge success.
Other noteworthy happenings that took place during 2011 include 34 murders, the passage of the Anti-Gang legislation, the formation of the Delta Squad and the promise given by Dr. Douglas that no new taxes would be imposed during 2012.
