Last Updated on September 17, 2019, 2:10 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Leader of the Opposition in St Kitts and Nevis, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L. Douglas said Monday that the dreams of the nation’s First National Hero and Father of Independence, The Rt Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw is under siege and gave the assurance that the SKNLP NextGen Team will restore the Bank of Justice and Opportunity once again in St Kitts and Nevis after the next general elections expected in a few months and as October.
He was at the time addressing a large crowd attending the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Robert L Bradshaw Memorial Park.
Remembering all the national heroes – Their Right Excellencies Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell, Sir Joseph Nathaniel France, Sir Simeon Daniel Dr. Sir Kennedy Simmonds, Dr Douglas noted that Bradshaw, Southwell and France were all living legends in their time, and their achievements and contributions have left indelible footprints upon the shifting sands of time and the history that shaped St Kitts and Nevis.
“Today as we honour and celebrate their brilliance, fortitude, vision and sacrifice, I am deeply moved with emotion because the last five years have shown me the real strength and significance of their enduring legacy. You see, while theirs was a powerful legacy that inspired a movement that transformed our nation, the ultimate test of that legacy has been how much of it has survived even after being battered by the vicissitudes of our politics and the changing times,” said Dr Douglas.
Tracing the history of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the St Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union SKNT&LU), Dr Douglas noted that the leaders took the dreams and aspirations to the political arena and used their legislative power and influence to create the changes that they had been advocating for years.
“The legacy of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is the birthright of St. Kitts and Nevis. Our Party has been behind of, in front of and a part of every major economic and social policy that has revolutionized our country,” said Dr Douglas, who mentioned universal primary and secondary education, the nationalization of the sugar lands, acquisition of the sugar factory, land reform, severance pay, workmen’s compensation, high minimum wage, slum clearance, affordable new home construction and the 40-hour work week.
“It was the Labour Movement that pioneered all these radical changes that unified, transformed and enriched the lives of the people of this Federation,” said Douglas, the Political Leader of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, who reminded that it was because of the high principles, boldness and courage of conviction of the Sir Robert Bradshaw, who received the political mandate to take St Kitts and Nevis into independence in 1975, began negotiations with the British government to join the community of nations.
“Bradshaw set the stage. It was Bradshaw who established the social services, the financial institutions and public infrastructure – such as the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank; National Insurance, National Trust, the Development Financial Corporation, now the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis, Social Security, Central Housing Corporation, now the National Housing Corporation (NHC) the Central Marketing Corporation, the Deep Water Harbour at Birdrock; the RLB International Airport – that became the engines of growth for the new economy,” Dr Douglas said.
Bradshaw’s dream was to do all the good that he could do that would lead to the empowerment, edification, upliftment and advancement of the people, not just their material well-being, but their psychological, physical, political, social and economic well-being.
“This was his vision for our country to which every Kittitian and Nevisian would fall heir! This was the vision and mission that propelled twenty years of progress and prosperity under the former Labour administration! Bradshaw did not just leave us our National Bank! In fighting for the human rights of the people of our country, he also made sure that the Bank of Justice and Opportunity in this country was also full. But what has become of Bradshaw’s dream today?” he asked.
Boldly stating that Bradshaw’s dream is under siege and is threatened with extinction, Dr Douglas said the Bank of Justice has been bankrupted under the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government of Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris.
“The great vaults of opportunity in our nation have been bankrupted. The Treasury of hope has been pillaged, All that has been given to the people are useless promissory notes that have failed to deliver any real or tangible benefits! promissory notes. The cheque of healthcare has bounced, The cheque of quality education has bounced. The cheque of affordable housing has bounced. The cheque of good governance has bounced. The cheque of morals and principles has bounced. And most importantly, the cheque of Liberty, has bounced. Our country has been bankrupted in more ways than can be counted,” Dr Douglas charged.
With the next general elections, months and maybe weeks away, Dr Douglas said the SKNLP NextGen Team will restore the Bank of Justice and Opportunity once again in St Kitts and Nevis.
Dr Douglas said it was time to bring an end to this long night of captivity and celebrate the joyous day break of hope, opportunity and prosperity in St Kitts and Nevis.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
