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The C.A. Paul Southwell Memorial on the New Town Boulevard which leads to the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Park. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 11TH 2005 - A wreath laying ceremony and the unveiling of a plaque will be held on Friday, National Heroes Day, to mark the refurbishment of the memorial dedicated to the life of one of the Federations National Heroes, the Right Excellent Sir C.A. Paul Southwell.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Parliamentary Representative for East Basseterre and Minister of Public Works, Utilities and Posts, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin, said Sunday, that the area around the memorial has been fenced, grassed, a walkway concreted and will be illuminated at night.
Work began earlier this year to enhance the site which had deteriorated with the use of the road by heavy duty equipment involved in the redesigned and reconstructed berthing facility at Port Zante and construction of the adjacent road outside of the Craft House.
The project is to be completed by Friday September 16th (National Heroes Day) a Public Holiday, which also marks the birthdates of First National Hero and Father of Independence, the Right Excellent Sir Robert L. Bradshaw and another National Hero, the late Right Excellent Sir Joseph N. France. Bradshaw, Southwell and France were awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the National Hero posthumously.
Dr. Martin told the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister that a plaque briefly highlighting the achievements of Southwell, who was born in Dominica and served St. Kitts and Nevis as a policeman, Trade Unionist, Chief Minister, Deputy Premier and Premier, will be unveiled during Fridays ceremony which begins at 10:00 A.M.
Brief remarks will be said by Dr. Martin and the Feature Address will be delivered by Barrister-at-Law, Mr. Anthony Johnson, of the law firm, Dublin & Johnson.
Following the unveiling of the profile, wreaths will be laid by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas; Ms. Vesta Southwell on behalf of the Southwell Family, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin and East Basseterre Resident, Ms. Laura Manners.
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Minister of Public Works, Utilities and Posts and Parliamentary Representative for East Basseterre, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin. (Photos by Erasmus Williams) |
The Ceremony will be chaired by Tehara Clarke, who will also give the opening remarks. The National Anthem will be rendered by Mario Hobson, the Invocation by Mrs. Gwendolyn Slader and a solo by Alex Condell. Students of the Tucker Clarke Primary School will say a poem and Mrs. Yvette Knight will give the Vote of Thanks.
Regarded as the architect of tourism and economic diversification in St. Kitts and Nevis, the nearby industrial park has been named the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Park.
The memorial, at the entrance of the Park, was erected by the Denzil Douglas Labour Administration and donated by the Government and people of the Republic of Cuba, to commemorate Southwells sterling contribution to East Basseterre and to St. Kitts & Nevis.
Sir Paul Southwell, who was elevated to the status of a National Hero in September 2004, was elected to the Legislature in 1952 and appointed to the Executive Council in 1955. In 1956, when the Ministerial System was introduced, Southwell was given the portfolio of Communications and Works.
Hoping for even more extensive constitutional changes, Southwell lead a delegation to London in 1959 and this resulted in the introduction of a constitution granting a full ministerial system in 1960. Southwell became Chief Minister, a post he held until 1966.
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla assumed the status of Statehood in association with Great Britain in 1967 and Southwell became Deputy Premier to Premier Robert Bradshaw and served as Minister of Finance, Trade, Development, Industry and Tourism.
Over the years he found himself very much involved in regional organisations and served as Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Association and Chairman of the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers.
In 1978, he was appointed Premier following the death of Bradshaw.
Southwell died in 1979 in St. Lucia shortly after chairing a meeting of the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers at which the decision was taken to form the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
