BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – St Kitts and Nevis is celebrating its 32nd anniversary of political independence from Britain on Saturday with the usual military parade and the country recognising its first prime minister as a National Hero.

Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris in his Independence Day message said that Sir Kennedy Simmonds, 79, was responsible for bringing the twin island Federation into nationhood and “oversaw our entry on to the world stage”.

He said the former prime minister “remained at the helm steering our country to highest levels of growth in the Hemisphere until we had sufficiently matured to stand on our own, and to be recognised as the world’s smallest and freest nation.

“We applaud this only living national hero who today serves as an inspiration to us proud citizens engaged in Nation-building,” Harris said.

“Sir Kennedy you have done well for your country. We adore your character and say thank you for your sterling contribution,” Harris said of the founding member of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and who was first elected to parliament in 1979 when he contested the by-election in Central Basseterre following the death of Premier Robert Bradshaw.

Sir Kennedy, a medical practitioner, quit active politics in 2000, when he lost the general election and in 2004, was appointed a Knight Commander in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael & Saint George.

In his Independence message former Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas described the past 32 years as a “struggle for self-actualisation” paying homage to the many nationals who would have contributed to building the Federation.

“On this special day, I pray that we are keenly aware of the countless ways in which St Kitts and Nevis have, for so long, been blessed. I cannot remember a time – in my lifetime – in which there was greater tumult and suffering in the world, with both man-made catastrophes as well as acts of nature leaving such despair in their wake.

“Yet, for so long, we in St Kitts & Nevis have been the beneficiaries of God’s abundant mercies. May we never take this divine beneficence for granted. May we commit ourselves to striving even harder to make ourselves, in some small way, worthy. And in a world in which democratic values are more important than ever to ensuring the stability that all humans crave, may we forever commit ourselves to upholding the time-honored values on which all democracies depend,” he added.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin La Rocque in his message commended the impressive strides made by the Federation, adding “St Kitts and Nevis has been a stalwart in the regional integration movement, always prepared to do its part to strengthen and further the interest of the region”.