Published 13 September 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
GREATER LOVE AND PATRIOTISM NEEDED IF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS IS TO ACHIEVE EVEN GREATER THINGS, SAYS QC GONSALVES
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, September 13, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – With a population of about just over 55,000 people, the 104 square mile twin island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has accomplished remarkable feats in a number of areas including tourism, sports, education and business.
But in order to safeguard these accomplishments and future achievements, one highly accomplished and respected legal professional, Mr. Anthony Gonsalves QC, believes a greater sense of love and patriotism must be exhibited by each and every citizen and resident of St. Kitts and Nevis, particularly among the younger generation.
“Our love for our country must force us to recognize that our investment, the capacity for brilliance of our people and all our captivating beauty, all our positive attributes, will be under serious threat of rapid erosion, if we, whether by act or omission, allow any members of our society to be dismissed or marginalized. This danger will present itself if we fail to act to address the social and economic challenges in our society,” said QC Gonsalves, who was the featured speaker at the annual Prime Minister’s Independence Lecture Series held at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) on Wednesday (September 12) evening.
The legal practitioner highlighted the achievements of several notable nationals including the likes of Elquemedo Willett, Kim Collins, Derrick Parry, Keith “Kayamba” Gumbs and Virgil Hodge, who have excelled in various sporting disciplines; the late Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Dr. Spencer Amory, Dr. James Jeffrey Liburd and Dr. Lincoln Sergeant whose work in the field of Medicine stands above all others; and individuals such as Ms. Cicely Tyson, Ms. Joan Armatrading MBE and Ms. Christene Browne in the area of Art and Entertainment, who have all made their country proud.
QC Gonsalves further noted that our love for country requires us to ensure that equal opportunities are made available to all people, “in particular our young people, those displaying academic abilities and those who do not but who, in other productive settings or arenas, far surpass the academics among us in natural ability.”
The theme chosen for this year’s Independence celebrations is “Love, Service, Patriotism and Pride, Independence 35”.
“Our Independence anniversary celebrations are a time for reflection and recommitment to the principles upon which our nation was built and continues to grow,” Mr. Gonsalves added. “I trust that when we reflect on this anniversary’s theme of love, service, patriotism and pride, our reflection will produce a vibrant reawakening in all of us of a spirit of gratitude for what God has bestowed upon us as citizens of this Federation and a commitment to safeguard for ourselves, our children and those to come of what we all treasure and hold so dear.”
Mr. Gonsalves said that our love for country does not require us to abandon our personal goals “but to ensure as best as we can that pursuit of our personal goals is done in a manner consistent with advancing the best interests of our fellow citizens.”
Photo 1: Featured speaker at Prime Minister’s Independence Lecture Series, Anthony Gonsalves QC.
Photo 2: Section of the audience at the Prime Minister’s Independence Lecture Series
Photo 3: Chairperson – Dr. Vance Gilbert; Featured speaker, Anthony Gonsalves QC, and Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris
