By Shanique Richards
St. Kitts Reporter
St. Kitts & Nevis celebrated the 24th anniversary of political independence this year in grand style with a range of activities and programs held under the theme Self Reliance, Social Responsibility: the Foundation of Independence.
Prime Minister Hon. Denzil Douglas hosted an independence concert at Frigate Bay Park on Tuesday evening.
Some of the island’s top bands including Nu Vybes, Small Axe, Grand Masters, Ultra Sonics and Royalties entertained the massive crowd. Reggae artiste Munga Honorable and Taurus Riley from Jamaica headlined the show.
As the crowd arrived in hundreds, there was bumper to bumper traffic along the Frigate Bay stretch beginning on Pond Road. Nonetheless, security forces were also out in their numbers conducting random searches of persons and vehicles.
The PM graced the stage and offered words of heartfelt appreciation to the community.
“I am proud to see Kittitians and Nevisians come together and I wish everyone a safe, peaceful and crime-free independence.
“I want everyone here to enjoy themselves this evening as we celebrate independence together,” he said. Immediately after at 12:00 midnight fireworks lit the sky to symbolize the crossing over to the official day that our Federation became independent.
There were also annual independence activities taking place which included the ministers of government visiting the primary schools around the island, the Prime Minister’s Lecture Series, Gala Night of Independence and the Independence Fun Run.
On September 16 the nation celebrated National Heroes’ Day which was commemorated by the inauguration of the monument of the first National Hero of St. Kitts & Nevis, the Rt. Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw followed by a State service that same day.
On September 19 the Independence Day Ceremonial Parade was held at Warner Park where the law enforcement and other uniformed agencies participated in the traditional march pass. On that same day Prime Minister Douglas visited all the patients at the Joseph N. France General Hospital and congratulated the parents of the Federation’s two independence babies.
