Nevis Premier – Joseph Parry
Charlestown, Nevis
May 28, 2012
Nevis Premier, the Hon. Joseph W. Parry said Monday morning via telephone from England, that the first Premier of Nevis, the late Dr. Simeon Daniel is “the Father of Modern Nevis”.
Expressing his sadness about the passing of Hon. Simeon Daniel, Premier Parry recalled that he worked under him as his Permanent Secretary and then as Minister of Tourism and Agriculture in Government.
“Mr. Daniel was a founding member of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) from 1970 and he achieved much for the people of Nevis,” commented the Premier.
He served as Chairman of the Local Council from 1972 to 1980 and was elected to the National Assembly in May 1975. Following the union of the historic coalition Government of the People’s Action Movement of St. Kitts and the Nevis Reformation Party, Mr. Simeon Daniel was named Minister of Finance and Nevis Affairs on February 1980.
Hon. Parry noted the many achievements that as Premier, Dr Daniel, brought to Nevis in Education, with the establishment of the Nevis Sixth form College, the economic evolution on the island with the Four Seasons Resort being established on Nevis and the empowering of Nevisians to own land by setting up the Nevis Housing and Land development Corporation (NHLDC).
Another national landmark of unparalleled economic empowerment to the people of Nevis is the Bank of Nevis Limited, which Dr. Daniel founded in 1985 and has become a beacon of hope in depressed economies of the OECS. It also has become one of the leading indigenous financial institutions in the region.
“Dr. Daniel has also opened residential areas such as Ramsbury, Hamilton, Cades Bay, and Prospect which made land affordable for the average Nevisian,” said Hon. Parry.
According to Mr. Parry, the first Premier was visionary and skilled in law, “Dr. Daniel was a trained British Lawyer who had a major role in framing the Independence Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
In the Independence Constitution, Dr. Daniel insisted on the insertion of Section 113 which allows for Nevis to secede from the Federal Union with St. Kitts. On gaining independence from Great Britain on September 19, 1983, Nevis was led to the return of government with the formation of the Nevis Island Administration and he became the first Premier of Nevis from September 19, 1983 to June 2, 1992.
Among the many awards given to Dr. Simeon Daniel was Doctor of Laws (Honorary) Marquis Giuseppe Sciciuana International University Foundation, 1987, Albert Einstein Bronze International Academy Foundation 1987; International Order of Merit Medal by the International Biographic Centre of Cambridge, England in 2000. The International Biographic Centre of Cambridge, England inducted him in their Hall of fame for outstanding work in the field of Government in 2005 and the award of commendation as a founder and supporter of the Bank of Nevis Ltd.
Meanwhile, Premier Parry who attended a number of business meetings in London and hosted successful Town Hall meetings with St. Kitts- Nevis Nationals in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds said he will be returning to Nevis on Tuesday, May 29th to help plan an official funeral for Dr. Daniel.