Last Updated on September 17, 2026, 10:55 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St. Kitts and Nevis has paid their tribute to the national heroes of the country during a wreath-laying ceremony hosted at the National Heroes Park in Conaree. The members of the government, led by Dr Geoffrey Hanley, Acting Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, paid their tributes to their fallen national heroes and the only living national hero of the country, Dr. SIr Kennedy A Simmonds.
The ceremony started with the arrival of the Governor General and the Members of the St Kitts and Nevis government. Political leaders from other political parties were also in attendance at the event.
The members of the Nevis Island administration also travelled to St Kitts to pay tribute to their national Heroes. The ceremonies were by Dr Hanley who delivered a brief address highlighting the role played by the national heroes of the country in securing and sustaining the country’s independence.
Dr Hanley delivered his address at the National Heroes Park on behalf of Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of the country, who is currently undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation after he suffered a stroke.
Starting his address, Dr Hanley said, the story of St. Kitts and Nevis is not only that of an island that got its independence in 1983. The island’s history of struggle began in canefields and was written by men and women whose labour built the economies from which they benefitted very little.
The history of the country was written by the individuals who endured enslavement and still dreamed of freedom, by labourers who demanded dignity and teachers who opened minds by teachers who opened minds, by nurses who cared for communities, by farmers, fisherfolks, entrepreneurs, public servants and families who believed that tomorrow could be better than yesterday.
The national heroes of the country emerged from a group of such individuals. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the National Heroes of the country. He said, “Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw dared to believe that the ordinary working man and woman deserved dignity, education, opportunity, and a voice in determining their own future.
Sir Caleb Paul Southwell understood that progress must reach beyond institutions and into the lives and homes of our people.
Sir Joseph Nathaniel France devoted himself to service, labor, and the advancement of the people, reminding us that nation-building is ultimately about improving human lives.
Sir Simeon Daniel asserted the dignity and aspiration of Nevis and helped strengthen the principle that our federation must respect the identity of both islands while advancing together.
Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds, our first Prime Minister and our living National Hero, helped lead us across the threshold into sovereignty, proving that a small nation could stand confidently among the community of nations.”
The Acting Prime Minister said that all these individuals, in their own way, created and enlarged possibilities for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr Hanley also urged the people of the island to carry on the legacy of their national heroes and continue to work for the country just as the national heroes of the country did as and when it was their time.
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.
