BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – March 22nd 2017 – Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas paid tribute Tuesday to former Governor of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, the late Sir Probyn Inniss.
Dr. Douglas, who served as prime minister from 1995 to 2015, credited Sir Probyn as one of the persons who influencing his decision to become the Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 6 in 1989.
He made reference to Sir Probyn’s sterling contribution to the 4-H movement in St. Kitts.
“It is in this area that I believe he made his greatest influence on my life, because as a young 4H-er, having seized with the passion of a young person, trying to make a difference in my community of St. Paul’s and with the encouragement and the support of Sir Probyn Inniss, Mr. Basil Henderson, Agnes Skerritt and others, I believe that I shaped the earliest part of my life in public service,” said Dr. Douglas during his weekly radio programme “Ask the Leader” on Kyss 102.5 FM on Tuesday. Sir Probyn served as President of the 4H Advisory Council from 1972 to 2004.
Dr. Douglas said Sir Probyn, who died last week at age 80, has filled his God-given purpose on earth as a true and noble son of the soil and servant of the people.
“Sir Probyn has played a critical role in the development of our country at very critical periods in our critical development and historical development,” said Dr. Douglas, who noted that he had sought his wise counsel on several occasions.
“I have had the opportunity to sit at his feet at his many appearances at 4-H conventions; in youth and community development,” said Dr. Douglas, who disclosed that on returning home in the summer of 1980 and following the change of Government, he was received by Sir Probyn, who was still Governor of the State of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla.
“On my mind was how the Labour Party lost the general election of February 1980. He sat me down and he explained to me exactly what had transpired. That was the nature of the man,” said Dr. Douglas, who sought Sir Probyn’s advice on the transition of the Labour Party leadership to him in 1989 and the appointment of a senator to serve in the House of Assembly.
Dr. Douglas disclosed that in December of 2012 or January of 2013, when the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party was at the crossroads with regard to its leadership, it was suggested at the party’s Executive Meeting that a group of “wise men of the Labour Movement who had understood the Movement from its beginning, mediate in the impasse in the party and cabinet.”
“Sir Probyn was one of those asked and he agreed, not because of partisan politics, but because he was aware of what could happen to a country when the leadership is not at one with itself. I recalled he waited for hours in the waiting room of the Office of the Prime Minister, but the others in the leadership who were to attend never showed up,” said Dr. Douglas.
“With patience, he clapped his hands as he always would do, he bowed his head and said ‘Mr. Prime Minister, at least I have come and I believe it now going into two hours and maybe we should wait no more,” said Dr. Douglas, who recalled that Sir Probyn had declined an appointment to a Board due to an impasse with one of his daughters and the government.
“I salute him as a leader of our country, as a parent, as a human being, as a fellow Kittitian and Nevisian who has laid down his life for the advancement of his country.”
Dr. Douglas said he supports the decision of the Government to give the late Governor a State Funeral with full military honours.
Photos 1 – Sir Probyn Inniss
Photo 2 – Rt Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas
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