PM’s Lecturer leaves audience to reflect on values of the nation
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| His Lordship, Hon. Chief Justice Hugh Anthony Rawlins |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-NEVIS son of the soil and recently appointed Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, His Lordship Hon. Hugh A. Rawlins, delivered a profound speech last evening (Sept. 17) at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium which called for Kittitians and Nevisians to not only revel in their achievements, but also question the cost of development.
As the appointed speaker for the Prime Minister Hon. Denzil Douglas’ 10th Annual Independence Lecture Series, Rawlins first took the opportunity to recall the overwhelming emotion of the first national flag raising and signing of the newly penned national anthem in 1983.
From that point, he went on to say that this year’s Independence theme of ‘Pride, Development, Progress, Independence, 25 Years of Success’ must be “ measured against objective criteria” and not simply accepted as inherently true because of the national pride that Independence evokes.
“The future can only be placed in true perspective by reflecting on the past…and we must therefore find these objective criteria to judge our pride, development and progress against.”
Rawlins optimistically noted that in areas such as politics, business and education, “the Federation’s achievements have stood out as far as I’m concerned”. He specifically cited St. Kitts-Nevis’ sustained economic growth in spite of external factors, such as hurricanes and the closure of the sugar industry, as examples of objective development. ~~Adz:Right~~
Social development, he said, was best exemplified by the Federation’s most abundant resource, its people.
He named several of the Federation’s literary luminaries—professor Samuel Rawlins, Dr. Joseph Halliday and Caryl Phillips—and top sports heroes—Keith ‘Kayamba’ Gumbs and Kim Collins—as reason to believe that Independence had produced true greatness for one of the smallest nations in the world.
Rawlins did not limit his address, however, to what he stated had the possibility to become nothing more than “empty platitudes”.
In his closing lines, the Chief Justice made an entreaty to the youth of the nation to “follow the beacon of those who led the way in the past” and pursue excellence with discipline and fervour.
Quoting the words of American founding father and philosopher Benjamin Franklin, Rawlins said, “I've lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth — that God governs in the affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without His aid?”
Rawlins said that he believed societal moral values of “right” and “wrong” had been clearer in the early days of Independence, but had since become muddled and more subjective, thus making it more difficult for the nation to move forward.
“Are the current trends of crime and violence, then, the cost of development?” was the question Rawlins asked the people of St. Kitts-Nevis to seriously reflect upon, though he remained confident that St. Kitts-Nevis has only touched upon its potential.
Following his speech, Rawlins received a standing ovation from the crowd, which included dignitaries such as the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and his cabinet amongst others.
