Letters to the Editor :: The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

Dear Editor:

The other night last week, there was an incident I have not witnessed anywhere in Nevis.People were quietly enjoying their dinners at the well known seafood restaurant when suddenly loud shouting started which ended with an Rastafarian man lying on the ground. A Caucasian man had hit him hard. The owner interfered and expelled the Rastafarian man. Unbelievable!I think no one knew exactly how the dispute started but our table was shocked by the way it was settled! So were others. There is never a clear cut perpetrator in such a fight unless you have it on video thus when you decide to expel, then you expel both parties, or none. The rasta might have said something which provoked the white man but that does not give him the right to hit him brutally that he goes down, or he should be the one to be expelled.But as I said, in such incidents, both men should have been asked to leave.We finished our meal, paid and left - I doubt we will return.

S. FahrniBoston, Me (USA)

Obi, I Find Your Remarks Extremely Offensive

Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to the article written by Everton "Swagga" Powell aka Obi on Friday January 8, 2010. I find his remarks to be extremely offensive and I can no longer tolerate such disrespect towards my father, the late Eugene Walwyn. Mr. Powell, in your article you stated that my father "died a lonely death as a traitor". Who are you to make such a statement? Did you ever meet Eugene Walwyn? Have you ever had a conversation with him to learn of his values and philosophies? You were only a little boy at the time. Were you present at my father's funeral? Were you there to witness the mass of people who gathered to pay their respects, including members of the opposition party and dignitaries from the Federation, United States, and Canada. Do you know the definition of a traitor? I do recall that the late Ivor Stevens, formed a coalition with the PAM government and served as the Minister of Works, Communications, and Land and the Honorable Premier Dr. Simeon Daniel also formed a coalition with PAM and served as the Minister of Finance. Were they not traitors? My father was a visionary. He founded the United National Movement Party to empower Nevisians and obtain funding from the Federal Government. He did not act on his own. His fellow party members gave him their vote of confidence to form a coalition with the Labour Party. He also addressed his plan of action with his constituents. You also stated that my father "drowned our dreams and aspiration with his own personal quest for fame and fortune simply because he wants to become the first Nevisian Prime Minister." Again, your statement has no merit. Who did you consult in making this claim? Up until his death, my father worked tirelessly to advocate for Nevisians and the working class. His true friends, family, and colleagues would tell you he was a humble, selfless man from Bath Village. At home, he taught us to love and respect everyone, no matter what their title, position, or status. As children, we spent our summer vacations in Bath Village so that we would never forget our strong heritage. He also taught us to give freely and when families asked him for help to immigrate to England, he would finance their trip. He valued education and shared his knowledge. As a solicitor, he represented clients from all walks of life, many of whom were poor and could not afford legal fees. He approached every case with the same vigor and dedication, frequently staying up late into the night to formulate his case. His dedication to the public was reinforced when he left private practice to serve as the first Nevisian Attorney General for the Federation. My daughter, his granddaughter, was inspired by his work and now works as attorney in the United States.This year marks the 15th anniversary of my father's death and I think it's about time that people should let him rest in the peace and stop disrespecting him in the press.

Professor Renee Louisy Walwyn