BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 3RD 2017 – Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party  (SKNLP) and former Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas has paid tribute to the late Cardinal Poesy Southwell,  describing him as a “worthy ally, faithful and obedient son, forgiving and loving father.”

Poesy, son of former Chief Minister, former Premier and National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell, died last Friday (30^th June) in the United States.

“Poesy was a stalwart who never gave up the struggle and was prepared to personally join the battle as a “soldier” if that was what was required of him to maintain St. Kitts and Nevis on the path of good governance, prosperity and progressive inclusive growth and development for one and all. And this was the position he adopted and pursued throughout his adult life, whether he was at home or abroad, and as early as the Statehood period of the Labour Administration of which his father was Deputy Premier, during the post-Independence period of the PAM Administration, during the near twenty years of the succeeding Labour Administration and the last near thirty months rule of the present Coalition government,” said Dr. Douglas in a statement on Monday.

He said that as Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and Labour Movement,  he had the opportunity and privilege of hosting countless meetings with him and full teams of American and Asian investors in New York, Connecticut, Philadelphia, New Jersey and  at home, in the true spirit of a hardworking and dedicated Developer and Ambassador looking for the right opportunities for the advancement of his country, whether it be in infrastructural, renewable energy, resort hotel or international financial services development.

“He was always ready to do battle in defense of the legacy of the Movement and at a moment’s notice he was there, either on the radio talk shows, or with the pen as his sword, or physically present as a champion for the cause at the Annual National Conference, at the street corners, at the restaurants and bars or in the privacy of the homes of his many many friends,” said Dr. Douglas.

“Today, Poesy is no more. We shall miss him. We shall always Remember him: Worthy Ally, Faithful and Obedient Son, Forgiving and Loving Father, Inspiring Sibling, Steadfast and true to the generational mandate and the legacy bequeathed to him by the ‘Giant’ of all our National Heroes, past and living, the Right Excellent Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell,” said  in tribute.

He said now that Poesy Cardinal Southwell is relieved from his earthly labours, “may his soul rest in peace eternal and rise again, at the sounding of the trumpets, to be taken in flight on the wings of angels to be permanently with the Lord.”

Dr. Douglas used the opportunity to convey to his immediate family “profound condolences, love and support during this sad moment of great loss and may they be fortified with our prayers.”

PRESS RELEASE

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 3RD 2017 – Former Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told The Independence for St. Martin Foundation that communication and public outreach must be a leading priority between now and the holding of a referendum on full independence.

“It is absolutely essential that you use every means at your disposal to explain to the public why you are advocating independence; the ways in which political independence would be superior to the current governance structure; the challenges that one could and should expect in the event that political independence is indeed attained; and how you would go about meeting these challenges,” Dr. Douglas told a packed audience, comprised Government ministers, parliamentarians, youths and persons from all walks of life at the University of St. Martin Lecture Room on Saturday, celebrated as Emancipation Day.

He noted that in addition to making those points to the public, the Foundation must “listen, ask questions of its own, become fully engaged with the public, leaving no stone unturned, and no person ignored and then listen some more.”

“Your having been able to elect your own legislature, and your having had the experience of managing the internal affairs of the territory would be a plus under any circumstance, but it is particularly important to have had this experience in light of current efforts to achieve political independence,” he told a captive audience.

The four-term prime minister underscored the importance of having an economic and financial-management team of the highest calibre possible.

“The first, of course, is a high level of expertise in the complexities of economic and financial analysis and management. Equally important, however, both as a complement to this financial expertise, as well as, in some ways, as a counterweight, there must be a keen understanding of how financial and economic policies affect people, human beings. A visionary leadership team must be able to more than analyze financial statements and economic projections. Politics is, at the end of the day, about positively affecting the life chances of human-beings, shifting life chances upward. And so, both ends of this policy spectrum – the human and the financial – must be seriously, competently, and responsibly attended to,” he said.

Dr. Douglas also said it was vital to undertake an in-depth analysis of the areas of comparative advantage, and to emphasize those areas of economic development that will be particularly competitive.

“Once the areas of comparative advantage have been determined, as you know, the need for highly skilled, highly focused and competent leadership will be key. The rigors of operating in this increasingly globalized world are becoming not less onerous, but more so,” said Dr. Douglas, whose presentation was punctured by numerous applause.
He said that as the people of St. Maarten look toward independence, “one of your best lines of defense will always be highly trained, highly focused leaders and technocrats who understand that their primary responsibility is to protect and enhance the social, economic, and political well-being of this land and its people.”

On the issue of security, Dr. Douglas stressed that national security must have an essentially two-pronged approach.

He said to that companies must be persuaded to provide apprenticeship programmes to young people.

“To the extent that you can secure the funding to push skills training among your youth so that instead of forever hoping for a job, they will be able to push forward as self-employed mechanics, air-conditioning specialists, computer specialists, electricians, plumbers, and so on. Those who wish to pursue an academic path should be encouraged to do so, of course, but for those who do not let us remember that the occupations just mentioned by me are solid, income-generating areas of endeavour on which highly secure lives can be built in which practitioners can find financial independence which equip practitioners of take care of themselves and their families,” he suggested.

Commenting on the issue of fiscal policy he asked: “Will you pursue the path of an income based system of taxation? Or will your tax be based on expenditures – as in a sale tax. Will you raise revenues based on ownership – as in property tax? Or will there be some combination of these options? On this very important issue which has such far-reaching implications for the character of the society you wish to build, I will end where I began – by advocating an extensive and in-depth conversation with the people of St. Maarten, I would recommend territory-wide town halls in which proponents of diametrically opposed views on this matter present their perspectives to the public in order that the people of St. Maarten could fully understand the implications of the alternate paths before them, and then, on an informed basis, as one people, chart their path forward.”

“A referendum on independence will be one more step in your journey of travails – and triumphs – as a people. And whatever you decide, in St. Kitts and Nevis, you have a friend. May the will of the people be registered. May the will of the people be heard. May the will of the people stand,” Dr. Douglas concluded.