Premier Hosts Dinner For St Kitts Prime Minister
At a dinner hosted by Premier Dr Ewart Brown at Camden yesterday [May 22] evening, the Premier praised Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, as a “rare breed of public servant” who determined early that the theme of his memoirs would be “mission accomplished” and not “if only” .
Approximately 40 people attended the event including the Premier’s wife, Mrs. Wanda Henton Brown, Cabinet Ministers and Opposition members who were all entertained by a St. Kitts steel band. In toasting the Prime Minister and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Premier remarked that “we are one people, Bermuda and St. Kitts. We seek greater opportunities for our people.”
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Prime Minister, Mrs Brown and Premier Brown. Photo courtesy of DCI
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After the Premier presented the St. Kitts Prime Minister with a set of three Bermuda Cedar serving trays, Dr. Douglas thanked the Premier and the people of Bermuda for this warm token of hospitality.
The Premier noted that Dr. Douglas had strived to transform St. Kitts between 1995 and 2010 and said, “his vision has been manifest in the development of its economy, the improvements in education and literacy and moreover, the awakened desire of his people to achieve great things.”
Prime Minister Douglas will be attending the Bermuda Day Parade tomorrow and departs the Island on Tuesday, May 25.
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Photo courtesy of DCI
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Following below are the Premier’s remarks:
Madame President, Mr. Speaker, Cabinet colleagues, Mr. Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Cannonier, ladies and gentlemen; welcome to Camden.
The yoke of public service wears on men and women in different ways. Some flee from its demands at the first opportunity. Others achieve no balance in their lives and become so consumed by either the trappings or the toil that the yoke becomes a burden. Some wear the mantle of public service as a badge of honour, forged in the humble acceptance of the voters’ pleasure and the public’s support. There is however, a rare breed of public servant who determines early that the theme of his memoirs will be “mission accomplished” and not “if only…..”
So it is with the distinguished Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. Dr. Denzil Douglas found St. Kitts one way in 1995 and in 2010 his vision has been made manifest in the development of its economy, the improvements in education and literacy and moreover, the awakened desire of his people to achieve great things.
As you will know, Bermuda is an Associate Member of Caricom. In the forum that is the Heads of Government there are powerful Regional voices. One must match Gonsalves’ colorful oratory; Manning’s supreme confidence, Spencer’s quick wit and Ingraham’s disarming sense of humor. Friends, I can tell you that physical stature is irrelevant at that table. This Prime Minister speaks with authority and his word on matters economic, medical and in many areas is respected and in many cases adopted.
As I indicated yesterday in the House, the Prime Minister hails from the north island village of St. Paul’s. In the spirit of yesterday’s debate permit me to share something that speaks to the common vision of us as leaders and our vision for our respective countries. At the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Conference of 2002, Dr. Douglas said: “the resources of the state must be spread evenly across the spectrum so that no longer can there be a broadening and a widening of the gap between those who have and those who have not. The young boy in St. Paul’s 70 years ago aspired to sit at the table of opportunity. The young boy in St. Paul’s 40 years ago aspired for an opportunity to share in the proceeds from the table of opportunity. The young boy from St. Paul’s in 2002 and beyond must be permitted to be a joint owner at the table of opportunity.
This common vision is as shared as our common blood. We are one people, Bermuda and St. Kitts. We seek only greater opportunities for our people.
Mr. Prime Minister, it is an honour to welcome you and to invite all assembled to stand and join with me in a toast to you and to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
