BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has come in for high praise from former Jamaica Prime Minister, the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson.
Speaking at the Ninth Annual Prime Minister’s New Year’s Gala of Prime Minister Douglas, the Caribbean’s statesman praised the leadership of Dr. Douglas, the transformation of the economy, the viability of the tourism and agricultural sector and his contribution to the regional and international community.
Mr. Patterson told over 600 guests, which included Governor General, His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian; Governor General’s Deputy, Sir Edmund and Lady Lawrence; Ministers of Government, Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps, visiting nationals and a wide cross section of the St. Kitts and Nevis society that it is nothing short of a miracle that the sugar industry was closed without traumatic effects.
“Four centuries ago, the history of St. Kitts and Nevis was all about sugar. It was virtually the solely industry. It was the dominance activity which formed the axis that determined the political construct of the federation and the social texture of its people,” noted Mr. Patterson.
He is of the view that if the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration, has achieved nothing else, “what it has done in managing to transform a mono-culture economy to a modern competitive one without social upheaval, no major dislocation or industrial trauma to have done so in a smooth seamless manner is truly miraculous.”
“And I can hear one of the founding fathers of St. Kitts and Nevis, who was among my guiding lights when I entered politics many years ago, Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, I can see him beaming with pride and saying ‘Denzil, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased’,” said Mr. Patterson to the loud applause of the audience.
“History will record that without fuss and fanfare; something has been done that is truly revolutionary. The lands of St. Kitts are no longer owned by the plantations – land has been put in the hands of the people and particularly former sugar workers have been given affordable house lots and homes,” added Patterson.
He pointed out that in the diversification of the St. Kitts and Nevis economy, tourism has been identified as a leading star.
“And one only has to look at where we are gathered in this very property, in this very hotel, – the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino – which can compete successfully with any other property anywhere,” said the former Jamaican leader.
Mr. Patterson said noted that despite the recession in global travel, major projects are moving forward in St. Kitts and Nevis with a first-class cruise port which now attracts over 500,000 cruise ship passengers annually.
“You have provided the infrastructure, you have provided the services but you have learnt that you cannot build an economy on a one-foot stool and therefore the government has wisely proceeded to double its agricultural production, allocating more lands to farmers and it has begun to develop a manufacturing sector led by exports to the United States,” said Mr. Patterson.
He said he was very pleased that members of the St. Kitts and Nevis disapora are visiting their homeland.
“Perhaps, even more than you who live here, who see what is going on from day to day, can attest to the progress each time that you visit your homeland. I would simply say to you your role is not confined to sending home remittances. You have skills and you can use them and you must contribute wherever you are to helping to build the land of your birth,” advised the Caribbean statesman.
He also recognised that Dr. Douglas has been able to assemble and keep together a good strong loyal team which is now being reinforced by some new energy “which is always welcome for success.”
“I want to pay tribute to him for his outstanding contribution to ensure the international credibility of both the OECS and CARICOM,” said Mr. Patterson, who admitted that it is not many persons who could have persuaded him to leave the pavilion temporarily and to share an occasion like this, “but Dr. Denzil Douglas is one of them.”
Mr. Patterson noted that in CARICOM, Prime Ministers have portfolios assigned to them.
Former Jamaican Prime Minister and noted Caribbean statesman, the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson (left) greets St. Kitts and Nevis’ Governor General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian (right) while St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas (c) beams.
(Photo by Erasmus Williams)
“That Dr. Denzil Douglas was given health, I can say without fear of successful contradiction that he has acquitted himself admirably. Very early on the assumption of those responsibilities, he managed to persuade all his colleagues to accept a simple diction that the ‘heath of a region is the wealth of a region.’ And so whether it is dealing with HIV/AIDS, Avian Flu , now Swine flu, the leadership role of Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas is unquestioned, his capacity, his wisdom, is not acknowledged only in the Caribbean, but his articulation, his comprehension and his energy are all widely acknowledged on the global stage,” said Mr. Patterson.
Sections of the large audience at the 2010 Prime Minister’s New Year’s Gala at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort Grand ballroom.
(Photo by Erasmus Williams)
