“God bless the Federation of Saint Christopher & Nevis. And may He possess us with that common love that binds and makes us as one.”

This is a day to rejoice and give thanks for, so we should really thank God for His grace and mercies to us as a nation. We have come thus far, and we need to love one another and our country more through our trying times and challenges. May I remind all of us that God has been good to us, and we need to focus on his goodness more than all the other stuff. There is still a lot to be thankful for in spite of all that is going on around us.

Remember how it was on September 19, 1983, when national pride was at an all time high? Thanks to all who made that possible. Remember how we all proudly wore our national colours and flew flags from our cars? Remember our beautifully designed flag and anthem, the t-shirts, windshield and bumper stickers and banners?

We were celebrating then, proud to be Kittitian and Nevisian. Never before, as far as I can recall, had there been a time of greater patriotic fervour – and I have been around for some fifty plus years of life.

I wish we could be that way more often, even if we are not celebrating some internationally recognized achievement. It is easy enough to celebrate when an event puts us on top of the world but I think it is important that we celebrate even when there isn’t some special occasion or accomplishment, because we should always be proud to be from St Kitts and Nevis.

It is particularly important now, when there are some misguided people who seem determined to drive this country to ruin, that those of us who care stand up and express our patriotism as well as our faith in the bright future that lies ahead.

We need to keep the “Sugar City and Queen City” flags flying to show our determination to take St Kitts and Nevis back from the drugs and arms, murderers, rapists and bandits and the other lawless elements ravaging our land.

As a people we need to stand firm in defence of our country. We should not be swayed by those hidden agendas that paint grim and dismal images of our country.

Regardless of where we stand politically, we must remember that the future is in our hands. We do not need to blindly follow political, economic, and social leaders whose agenda is to satisfy a select few.

Crime, natural disasters and the impact of global trends may cause us to despair, to lose hope in our country, and people. In the bad times it is all to easy to bad-talk St Kitts and Nevis and predict national ruin and widespread suffering.

In this world today, let me remind you that we are not immune from crime, violence, national disasters and food shortages. I, for one, refuse to give up on St Kitts and Nevis. I hope you too as citizens will stand firm also.

Our two islands are unique and blessed with natural resources that make us the envy of other countries of the world. Indeed, we have blessed the world with music and sports, just to name a few. So as we celebrate this 25th anniversary of independence, I would like to pay respect to “The Man From Under the Breadfruit Tree,” King of Kings, The Maestro King Ellie Matt. I want to wish you the best of health. I will remind you of the words once uttered by one of our national heros to another “Hold strain, Ellie.” Please do likewise.

As I listened to the different radio stations I realised that there are still many patriotic citizens (and I applaud that) playing the songs that remind us of our blessings as a nation, and I must say that it did my soul well to hear these wonderful songs and all the reminders of those who have made significant contributions to this twin-isle country. “Arise, the Country is Yours,” “Viva St Kitts,” “The Cracking of the Whip” and many more tunes too numerous to mention. To all the artistes, continue to produce much more tunes.

As I am about to close this message to our federation, people, let me once again say that I love the this country, I love the people, and all the other blessings we overlook. I hear many of us speak in terms of giving up, but one of my favourite gospel songs says that “I just can’t give up now. I’ve come too far from where I’ve started from! Nobody told me the road would be easy, but I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me.”

Maybe we can relate those words to our country - to inspire us to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Faith in a loving God to deliver us, faith in our countrymen to stand up and do our best, and faith in ourselves to rally around sweet “Sugar City and Queen City.“ we just can’t give up now, we’ve come too far from where we started from. Twenty-five years! Nobody told us the road would be easy, but I don’t believe He’s brought us thus far to leave us.

Like other countries, we have our fair share of challenges, and as one famous Caribbean calypsonian (Black Stalin) sang and reminded us: “We can make it if we try, just a little harder. If we just give one more try, life will be much sweeter.” St Kitts and Nevis, let us try a little harder to make it as a people – as a nation.

We have so much going for us, and probably have not yet realised it (maybe).

My prayer is that we make a life as we focus on making a living, that we reach out to our neighbours as we travel abroad, that we give to our country. After all, our country has given us so much.

To the government and people of St Kitts and Nevis, to the Hon Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and members of his Cabinet, to the Hon Premier Joseph Parry and his Nevis Administration, to all the opposition parties and their leaders, distinguished citizens, to the first Prime Minister the Right Hon Sir Kennedy A. Simmonds.

My brother and sisters, may God richly bless you all, and as we set our sights on another twenty-five years, may they be a challenge for excellence that will prosper and that our youths, elders, leaders and country will rise above all expectations.

To my mother Mrs Alice Warner of Church Street Basseterre, daughter Maureen, grandchildren Raheem and Shakima, much love, happy independence anniversary.

Blessings and respect to all.

Love,

Cecil Lincoln Warner

“Alika”