BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 31st 2014 (CUOPM) – Twenty-five persons who over the past 25 years have contributed to the re-election as a Member of Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas were honoured during an awards ceremony.
During remarks during the ceremony at the Agro-Tourism Facility, which was appropriately decorated at Sir Gilles, Prime Minister Douglas in celebration of the event said it was by God’s grace that the people of Constituency 6 and he have been able to work as a dedicated, committed, and cohesive team for the past twenty-five unbroken years.
“That bond has caused them to stand with me whenever it has been time for them to cast a ballot. And, as a result, we have been able, with the support of Cabinet and the nation, to bring about major, dramatic, and indeed historic changes in the lives of men, women, and children not only in this constituency but all across this blessed land,” he said to over 500 persons present.
In recognizing the extraordinary efforts, and the unmistakable impact, of the men and women who were honoured, Prime Minister Douglas pointed to the passion with which those who have come out of St. Paul’s paved the way for others.
“They not only pried the school doors open, but also cleared a path to the universities of the world, ensured that those who thought they would never own either land or their own homes, have ended up owning both and by the thousands. Indeed, perhaps this explains the passion with which we have resolved that never must the expenses of an illness remove from any of those individuals - or any other National of this country, really – that unique and special asset we call a home,” said Prime Minister Douglas to a tumultuous applause.
He noted that as a child, this northwestern part of St. Kitts was his world. “I spent my days here, and I spent my nights here. Indeed, until I went to the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School in 1965, I had very little reason to go into Basseterre except, perhaps, on Saturdays when I would accompany my father into town to take care of the many Saturday tasks with which everyone has to contend,” Dr. Douglas recalled.
“What I remember about this part of the country when I was a boy, however, was a study in contrasts. A study in stark, heartbreaking contrasts - because on the one hand, you had the magnificent beauty that surrounded us: the bold, majestic Mt. Liamuiga (Mt. Misery, as it was then called, and with good reason) in one direction, and the endless, shimmering sea in the other. You had the cooling breezes and the brilliant sunshine and the many shades of green. Everywhere. And then there were also the warmth and the support; the faith and the perseverance of the people who lived in this party of the island. But cheek by jowl with that warmth and support, faith and perseverance there was a grinding, brutal poverty,” said Dr. Douglas, who added:
“A poverty that existed not because of any deficits in the people of this area, but because of the deficits of conscience in those who, at that time, wielded complete and total social, political, and economic control. And so, what we see as brilliant sunshine today was often seen as hot, scorching sun back then, as men, women, and children planted and weeded and cut and slashed their way through these cane-fields day after day after day. Only to return home, at the end of the day, to the only homes their conditions permitted them – homes made from the stalks of the sugar cane.”
“Trash houses, they were called. In the midst of Nature’s beauty, in the midst of Nature’s bounty. These conditions could then be found all across the land because Governmental neglect and societal disdain were the order of the day. But in St. Paul’s, Newton Ground, Saddlers, Paros, Lavington, Pogson and Harris’ the place where I learned about love, and God, and faith, it was particularly acute,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He pointed out however that the awards ceremony is being held under different circumstances, with vastly different life-chances, and in a facility in which Kittitians and Nevisians will welcome other Kittitians and Nevisians, in an atmosphere that is pleasant, calm, and free of duress.
“I am pleased that on in this former cane-field, Kittitians and Nevisians will be reminding their countrymen of the healing powers of various plants – a wisdom brought here by our own African forebears. And they will be sharing with their countrymen the healing powers of Chinese plants as well – knowledge passed on from the elders to the Taiwanese and from the Taiwanese to us. And from this spot, the ancient wisdom of Taiwan and Africa will be share to those who, from distant lands, visit our shores,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He stressed that the transformation of this former cane-field from a place of anguish and pain into a place of healing and hope encapsulates, in microcosm, what he had hoped to do when the good people of Constituency 6 first elected him in 1989.
“And to this, I have remained trued. I wished those who had, historically, been locked out and marginalized to, at last, come into their own, free to work, and strive free to aspire, and achieve. And I wanted those who had never been locked out of anything, to know that to them I was extending a hand of sincere friendship and partnership so that, together, we might all – regardless of class, color, or creed - work to promote the common good of this country of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Douglas, before presenting and honouring the “men and women who over the years have given of themselves unstintingly, men and women who have worked on behalf of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and on my own behalf. I, for one, know that I have been permitted a very special role in our country’s inspiring journey. A role made possible, firstly, by the men and women who call this area home. For this, I thank them. For this, I honour them. For this, I bless them. As, indeed, I do for us all. Thank you,” Prime Minister Douglas concluded.
Honoured were Saddlers - James Pinney and Annika Richards; St. Paul’s: Philmore Caines and Louise Morris; Dieppe Bay: Beverley Williams and Carlton Berridge; Parsons: Ann Wigley and Kenneth “Reds” Millard; Newton Ground: Ester Rawlins and Fitzroy Flemming; also Mary Nolan, Maxine Stanley and Nuricer Maynard-Archibald
Executive Members also honoured: Ruby Taylor, Orvis Mills, John Mills, Diane Francis, Onisimus Mason, Rosalyn Grant, Petrona Sommersall, Rhyllis Vasquez, Estella Hendrickson, Henrietta Douglas-Christmas, Patricia Phillip and Linda Adams (Honorary)
Following the arrival of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and the Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence, the National Anthem was sung. The Invocation was said by Rev. Mrs. Janet Paul of the St. Paul’s Wesleyan Holiness Church.
Welcome Remarks was given by the Master of –Ceremony, Mr. Mario Williams and this was followed by a solo by Denicia Henderson, a student of Saddlers Secondary School.
Following remarks – Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony, Chairperson of the Silver Jubilee Committee, a poem was said by Mr. Jamal Collins.
A visual presentation, a dance by sisters Taerani and Arienne Phillip were presented.
Following a Toast to Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, the Parliamentary Representative fittingly responded.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Mr. Shavon Douglas, a member of the Silver Jubilee Committee.
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