The Prime Minister was at the time delivering a nation-wide address, on Sunday 19th September- on the occasion of the 27th Independence Anniversary of St. Kitts & Nevis.
Speaking on the theme, of “Strengthening Families for Positive Nation Building”, the Prime Minister said, “To those who are not wealthy, be not disheartened by the fact that you cannot give to your children, the most expensive cell phones or the most popular brand names”.
He said that a strong and solid love, tireless efforts to shape your child’s character, constantly showing your child the difference between right and wrong, and most of all trying to the best of your ability, to be a good and decent example to your child, would go much further in securing your child’s future, than anything else in the world.
Dr. Douglas told parents of the nation that they have the power to raise decent and worthy men and women of character and import in this country… and this they must strive to do.
The Prime Minister opined that children need emotional, moral and spiritual mooring, if they are to make it through the storms of life, long after the parents are gone. He said that, as we stand together at the dawn of yet another year as an independent nation, regardless of our economic and social status, what the children and young people of this nation need…really, really, really need, to make it through the trials of life, are people to guide them, to encourage them, to reign them in, to support them, to say no when we must, and to stir within their breast, a well developed conscience, on matters great and small, for therein lies the only hope of any nation.
Dr. Douglas shared his vision that it is only through meeting of our responsibilities, would we, as a people, achieve full and glorious potential. He told Kittitians and Nevisians that together they have built a good and stable nation of which we should all be grateful and proud.
St. Kitts & Nevis gained political independence on Monday 19th September, 1983, under the leadership of Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, who became the country’s first Prime Minister, serving in the position from 1983 to 1995, when Dr. Douglas assumed the leadership of government.