By: Erasmus Williams
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 14th 2017 – The annual wreath laying ceremony at the Robert L. Bradshaw Memorial Park in St. Paul’s, is set for this coming Saturday – National Heroes Day.
Former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas will lay the first wreath at the foot of the life-size statue of the Federation’s First National Hero and Father of Independence, the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.
Parliamentarians, ambassadors, St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union officers, family members of other National Heroes and civic leaders will also lay wreaths.
The annual event begins at 4 pm and will be followed by a fun day featuring the Small Axe Band, games, eats and drinks at the nearby St. Paul’s Recreation Grounds.
National Heroes Day was established in 1996 by the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party Administration of the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas following passage of the National Honours Act by the Federal Parliament.
The first observance of the holiday was on 16thSeptember 1998 to honour The Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, the first Premier of St. Kitts and Nevis, former Chief Minister and former labour activist.
September 16th is also the birthdate of Sir Robert and another National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Joseph Nathaniel France.
National Heroes are:
· 1998: Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, first Premier of St. Kitts and Nevis.
· 2004: Paul Southwell, second Premier of St. Kitts and Nevis
· 2004: Sir Joseph Nathaniel France, politician and trade union leader
· 2013: Simeon Daniel, first Premier of Nevis.
· 2015: Sir Kennedy Simmonds, first Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
