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Lorenza (left) and Clytie Southwell lay the wreath on the grave of their father and National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell as Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas and officials of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union look on. (Photo by Erasmus Williams) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 5TH 2005 One of St. Kitts and Nevis National Heroes, the Right Excellent Sir C. A. Paul Southwell, is being hailed for his foresight in starting the diversification of the sugar agriculture economy nearly 40 years ago.
Southwell, a former Chief Minister and Premier, the late Right Excellent Sir C. A. Paul Southwell, while serving as Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism and Development, facilitated the development of tourism and manufacturing in the twin-island Federation with the acquisition of Frigate Bay for tourism development and the construction of the first hotel there and the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas said the twin-island Federation was at the crossroads in its development, especially with the present transition of the economy away from sugar agriculture into hospitality services, mainly tourism.
We face the future very boldly, very confident, that we shall succeed. I say it with confidence, because the foundation for this transition of the economy, has already being laid by persons like Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell, said Prime Minister Douglas at a wreath laying ceremony at Southwells graveside.
It was he who spurned the industrial development in St. Kitts and Nevis. It was he who had the vision and recognised that one day the sugar industry would be there no more and thus we needed to begin the development of our tourism sector, said Dr. Douglas.
The Prime Minister said he was proud of the fact that the foundation has been laid and I can confidently walk with my people into a new era, the foundation of which has been already laid by Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell.
Cry no more for your Dad. He has served, he has served well and we are proud to remember him, said Prime Minister Douglas to two of Southwells daughters, Lorenza and Clytie as he presented the wreath to be laid on their fathers grave.
Southwell is also credited with the vision of putting the infrastructure in place and the financing and development of the Ponds and Sandy Point Industrial Estates, which saw the establishment of Curtis Mathes, which assembled black and white and colour television sets; the Caribbean Shoe Manufacturers, Calypso Garments and electronic assemble plants.
Treasurer of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, Mr. Stanley Franks said Mr. Southwell, elevated to the status of National Hero on National Heroes Day last year, said the nation must remember Mr. Southwell for his contribution to the development of tourism.
We pause to remember his contribution the industrial development of St. Kitts, because of his resolution to diversify our economy in which Southwell was best at, said Franks.
