Prime Minister emphasizes the positive in Independence address

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Published on Thursday, 20 September 2012 08:08

Written by Andre Huie

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Basseterre, St. Kitts (WINN):  Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas in his Independence message Wednesday lauded the progresses and accomplishments of the Federation over its 29 years of independence. 

“We are grateful to be governing in a country in which everyone has strong views, clear opinions, lively passions, and are not afraid to express them, but where we have no hatreds, one for the other,” the Prime Minister said.

“…And a quick glance of the international news is all that any of us needs to be reminded in the starkest terms of the enormity of this blessing.  We think about our nation’s children and their families and my government is grateful for the strengthening bonds between people all across this land and those who are paid to uphold our laws and keep us safe.  For this is how we create the peace that our children need.  This is how we create the stability that our families must have.”

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister says there was much to be thankful as the country marks the 29th anniversary of Independence. 

He praised the Sugar Industry Diversification Fund (SIDF) as a creative answer to the inability today to get commercial credit because of the global economic downturn.

“It is through this Foundation and other funding sources that the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis together with the private sector and the NGO community will pursue a new and exciting economic stimulus programme that will respond to our training and skilled needs for our employed and unemployed citizens especially those who have recently completed their high school, university and college education at home and abroad.”

He said by doing this, the country would not only increase productivity among the employed but would also unlock the potential for innovative start up entrepreneurship as the economy was driven towards positive growth.

Dr. Douglas praised the farmers and urged the nation to support them in their thrust in agriculture. 

“Let us look at the farmers…working the thousands of acres turning over to them, striving to produce fresh, healthy alternatives to foods from distant stories, unleashing the life giving powers of the earth.  Our rich soils make this very possible and for this we should be grateful.  Let us then spend our hard earned resources with our hard working farmers, and in the process help our families return to the food that made our parents strong and healthy.”

The Prime Minister also pointed to technology as part of the nation’s progress over the last 29 years, making particular reference to his government’s school laptop programme. 

“In this independent nation of ours, so many of modest means, taking their own laptops into their families own homes after a day of school, no longer stuck someplace 10:00 at night hoping that someone [else’s] computer will become eventually free.  Their families no longer paying rent on homes they will never own.”

He said that the computers gave students and their families an opportunity at entrepreneurial independence that had not existed before, and helped parents and children to develop the technological proficiencies that modern employers demanded.

Listen to full address HERE.

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