Cabinet Secretary to the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Mr. Ashley Farrell, in a televised statement on NTV Channel 8, on Tuesday November 13, 2007, shed light on the proposed knighthood of Dr. Simeon Daniel, Nevis first premier.
He said Premier Joseph Parry had taken the necessary steps to have the honour bestowed just after his administration had entered office one year ago and was awaiting word from the authority authorized to review, approve or disapprove nominations.
“When the Nevis Reformation Party regained power in July 2006, one of the administration’s first decisions was that Dr. Daniel should be fittingly honoured. We felt and still feel that Dr. Daniel as one of the architects of the independence of our Federation should have been knighted at the same time that this special honour was bestowed on the first Prime Minister of the Federation The Right Honourable Sir Kennedy Simmonds.
“Fellow Nevisians, in 2006, the matter of knighthood for Dr. Simeon Daniel was raised by the Hon. Premier Joseph Parry with the Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas. The subject of Dr. Daniel’s knighthood was also mentioned at a meeting of the two Cabinets. The curriculum vitae of Dr. Daniel was subsequently submitted to the Federal Cabinet. So Dr. Daniel has been nominated for knighthood. However, we have to await the decision of those authorised to review such nominations. I must point out that such nominations are not normally made public until they have been approved,” he said.
Dr. Daniel had served as the first Premier of Nevis from 1983-1992 and has been referred to as the architect of a modern Nevis. He served the Nevis Reformation Party as its leader for 22 years 1970-1992.
