St. Kitts – Nevis Defence Force Platoon On Parade
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
September 23, 2008 (CUOPM)
Thousands of nationals, residents and foreign dignitaries attended last Friday’s Ceremonial Parade to mark the 25th Anniversary of Independence at the Warner Park Football Stadium.
Among the dignitaries were a Presidential Delegation from the Republic of China on Taiwan, headed by Chief Justice His Excellency Dr. In-Jaw Lai; United States Ambassador, Her Excellency, Mary M. Ourisman; France’s Ambassador, Her Excellency Michele Sauteraud; Russia’s Ambassador, His Excellency Victor Zotin and Mrs. Zotin; Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency David Marshall and Mrs. Marshall; Asssiant Secretary General of the Organsiation of American States, His Excellency Albert Ramdin, British High Commissioner His Excellency Duncan Taylor and Mexico’s Ambassador, His Excellency Alonzo Losano Arrendondo as well as the Resident Ambassadors of Cuba, Venezuela, the Republic of China on Taiwan and the Honorary Consuls of Turkey, Austria, Italy, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
Units of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Cadet Corps along with the Boys Brigade, Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders, the Majorettes, Boy Scouts, Boys Brigade, Fire Services, Girls Brigade, the Shadwell Overcomers and the Traffic Wardens were on parade.
Twenty-two members of the United States Army Band in Florida joined the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force Band during the parade. A unit from the visiting British Frigate, HMS Iron Duke also participated.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas took the General Salute on his arrival. This was followed shortly by the arrival of His Excellency the Governor General, Dr Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, who took the General Salute.
Defence Force Major Cornell Kelly, who was in command of the parade invited Prime Minister Douglas to inspect all armed and unarmed units.
The Governor General took the salute as the armed units paraded in slow march and he was joined by Prime Minister Douglas for the quick march in which the unarmed units participated. The helicopter from the HMS Iron Duke flew overhead and saluted in grand style.
Following the Independence Message from Prime Minister Douglas and the departure of the Governor General and the Prime Minister, hundreds lined the streets of Basseterre to view the spectacular parade of the units from the Football Stadium at Warner Park to Camp Springfield.