BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 26TH 2007 (CUOPM) National Political
Leader of the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Prime Minister Hon.
Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, has paid tribute to past leaders and members of the
political organisation. The theme of the anniversary celebrations is
“Struggle,,, Progress”¦. Vision The Experience to Lead.”
“In giving thanks to Almighty God for bringing us this far, it is necessary
to pause, salute and give thanks to the many ordinary men and women who have
struggled and sacrificed, not only with their earthly possessions, but even
their lives in the service of this great organization, an organization that
has laboured and transformed the lives of ordinary men and women of St.
Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas at a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the
75th Anniversary of the founding of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party at the
Zion Moravian Church on Sunday.
Prime Minister Douglas in a Note of Thanks, recalled that the St.
Kitts-Nevis Labour Party was founded as the Workers League by a group of
enlightened men and women in 1932, as a vehicle to transform the social and
economic landscape and the working conditions of the ordinary men and women
of this country.
The Party has a record of which we are all proud. It is a record of
progress and transformation that has been achieved through struggle and
sacrifice. As a Labour Movement, in partnership with its sister organisation
the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union- we have fought many battles
with the ruling class and its representatives of the day. These battles were
sometimes fierce, whether it was the Buckley’s Riot, the Slum Clearance, the
reform of the elitist education system, or the Nationalization of the Sugar
Estates and the Sugar Factory,” said Dr. Douglas, who assumed the leadership
of the Labour Party in 1989 and is the second longest serving political
leader of the party.
Dr. Douglas recall with deep gratitude the “sacrifice of our great leaders
who have passed from this Earth into eternity, those who offered themselves
as representatives of the people on behalf of this Party, as well as those
at the constituency level. We say thanks to those who have served on the
National Executive and Branch Executive Committees, past and present. We
give God thanks for your service, as well as to the ordinary men and women
who continue to give loyal support. We ask that you hold your present
leaders in your prayers, as we continue to apply the vision of our great
Movement to transform our beloved country.”
He said Labour Party has triumphed with the help of Almighty God, and called
on the rank and file of the Party “to unite and continue the good work of
our forefathers, as we celebrate and remember the contributions of all of
our stalwarts over the years.”
Dr. Douglas expressed the hope that the Thanksgiving Service “will serve as
an inspiration to all of us to continue the struggle to improve the quality
of life of our people, which has been the vision of this great Party of ours
for the past 75 years.”
The Service of Thanksgiving was conducted by Rev. Denise Smith-Lewis.
Governor General, His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian; Ministers of
Government, Officers and Executive Members, the diplomatic and consular
corps, former Governor Sir Probyn and Lady Inniss and rank and file members
attended the service.
Nicola Thompson rendered the National Anthem; the Call to Worship was said
by Mr. Geoffrey Hanley; Delrose Mills gave the Welcome and Mrs. Victoria
Borg-O’Flaherty gave a Genesis and Legacy of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour
Party.
General Secretary of the Labour Party read the First Lesson; Miss Viera
Galloway, the Second Lesson; Sharon Rattan and the Four Holy Dancers
performed and Minister of Health, Hon. Rupert Herbert gave a pan solo.