FridaySaint February 27th 2004Lucia Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE 1 NATIONWIDE No.37. Friday February 27 2004 A publication of the Department of Information Services EDITORIAL JOURNEY TO AAA NATIONNATIONNATION ATATAT 252525 NATIONHOOD The Silver Jubilee Year of Independence Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Hon. Dr. Kenny D. is a significant milestone in the history Anthony has urged St. Lucians to continue to wage war of our young nation. It signifies a nation against poverty, injustice, intolerance, and bigotry. coming of age and a readiness to accept responsibility for its own development and the collective destiny of its people. In a statement issued in observance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Independence Dr. Anthony said the struggles During the course of the past 25 years of our forefathers have helped “ assert our right as a people of independence, we have achieved to decide our own destiny, and to take our place in the world much and we therefore, have much to as free men and women” be proud of as a people and as a nation. Despite the many trials that we have Dr. Anthony said “Our rights and freedom came with the encountered on the journey to price tag, one that mandates that we demonstrate a nationhood, we have had many triumphs. willingness and readiness to govern ourselves. If, out of Today, we celebrate those triumphs, but almost nothing, our ancestors created a society where we in the midst of this celebration, we must pause to contemplate and appreciate now enjoy a descent standard of living, democratic the historical process to which we owe governance, relative peace and tranquility, then we should this social, political and economic have confidence that we too, can create a more glorious evolution. future than the present and the past” cont’d on page 3 History is the collective consciousness of a nation and it is only by recalling Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony our history that we can understand the genesis of our being and gain a fuller comprehension of ourselves. As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the birth of our nation, we must never forget the struggles of the past, for it is out of those struggles that our nation was born. It is therefore, imperative that we all remember, recognize and preserve the contributions of those who dedicated their lives and gave of their service in order to ensure that Saint Lucians have a dominant voice in shaping their socio- economic and political destinies. The struggles of those before us have helped us assert our right as a people to decide our own destiny and to take our place in the world as fee men and women. Rights, however, are always accompanied by responsibilities, and freedom is never a gift bestowed without a cost. Our rights and freedoms came with a price tag – one that mandates that we demonstrate a willingness and readiness to govern ourselves. Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, Governor General of St. Lucia presents St. Lucian leaders to His Royal Highness. the Duke of York. From left to right: Mr. Michael Pilgrim, Dr. Vaughn Lewis, Sir. Vincent Floissac, Lady Floissac, Lady James, cont’d on page 7 Sir Stanislaus James. Government Notebook “Take 2 ” - A fifteen minute news review of the week. A fresh news package daily Every Friday at 6.15 p.m. on NTN, Cablevision Channel 2. on all local radio stations 2 Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE Friday February 27th 2004 Congratulations from other Nations AUSTRALIA BARBADOS BRITISH The Hon John Howard, Prime Minister of VIRGIN ISLANDS Prime Minister of Australia has Barbados, Hon Owen S. Arthur Chief Minister Dr. the Hon. D. congratulated the Government has written to Dr. Kenny D. Orlando Smith has extended and people of St. Lucia on the Anthony, Prime Minister of St. best wishes to St. Lucia on the occasion of the island’s 25th Lucia to congratulate the island occasion of the island’s 25th Anniversary of Independence. on the occasion of its 25th Independence Anniversary. Anniversary of Independence. In a message to Prime Minister, Dr. In addition, Representative for the Kenny D. Anthony, the Australian In a letter to Dr. Anthony, he said, “I Fifth District, the Hon. Delores Prime Minister said, “On the am happy to extend warmest wishes Christopher represented the BVI in occasion of the National Day of St. and heartiest congratulations to your St. Lucia during a series of Lucia, I wish to convey to you, your Government and the people of St. celebrations from February 21 to Government, and people my Lucia as you celebrate the 25th 22, which were planned to mark the warmest wishes together with those Anniversary of your country’s occasion. of the Australian Government and Independence. I look forward to people. May I express my continue working closely with you St. Lucia became an independent confidence that the friendly relations within the framework of the country 25 years ago on February existing between our two countries Caribbean Community and the 22. The BVI Government sent an will continue and prosper in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean official representative following an coming year. Please accept my States, and to see the further invitation by Prime Minister of St. personal congratulations and the strengthening of the good bilateral Lucia Dr. Kenny Anthony. assurances of my highest Barbados Prime Minister relations which currently exist consideration”. Hon. Owen Arthur between out two countries. On In response to a letter from Dr. behalf of the Government and Anthony dated January 23, the Chief “On the occasion of our 25th anniversary, I salute those who have gone before, those whose efforts have brought us this far. Although we have come thus far, people of Barbados, please accept Minister said, “Thank you for your we still have a long way to travel and we cannot be like weary travellers who our best wishes and congratulations invitation to join in the celebration of seek rest long before the journey is done.” on your country’s achievement”. your country’s 25th Independence Anniversary. Please accept my St. Lucia’s 25th Independence Anniversary has been recognized by several Government’s best wishes for your countries, as congratulatory messages to Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony celebrations.” pour in. The following are extracts from these messages. Nevis Island United StAteS of Anguilla BUDGET Nevis Island Administration Premier, AmericA Acting Chief Minister of Anguilla, Vance W. Amory said, “Your country Victor F. Banks said, “This event has distinguished itself as one President of the United States, George W. Process Begins committed to the realization of a Bush through the Embassy in Bridgetown is a significant milestone in the forward-moving, visionary said, “The nations of the Eastern Caribbean history of St. Lucia and it must perspective which keeps pace with share a common heritage with the United engender the patriotism, national Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny D. the development of globalization. We States. In addition to long-standing ties of pride and consciousness of all Anthony, on Tuesday February have no doubt that this resolve culture, trade and friendship, St. Lucia and citizens. We in Anguilla can sense 24th, began meeting with motivated by the determination to the United States share a deep commitment to democracy. We look your joy and admire the government agencies to hear safeguard, as well as to advance the tremendous progress the people and consider their budgetary well-being of your people will forward to continuing to work closely with St. Lucia to promote good governance, proposals for the 2004/2005 continue to strengthen you in the of St. Lucia have made since your respect for human rights, and the rule of future”. decision to travel the path of fiscal year. law throughout the region”. nationhood. We also value the Montserrat warm fraternal relationship we This year, the budgetary Republic of Trinidad share in the sub-region and the process, which started Montserrat’s Chief Minister, John A. close bonds of friendship immediately after the island’s Osborne wrote: “Twenty-five years of and Tobago between our governments and 25th Independence independence is a significant milestone people”. Anniversary, came earlier than in that it demonstrates the coming of Prime Minister of the Republic of usual. age of your country and the many Trinidad & Tobago, Patrick Manning strides that have been taken in the Congratulatory messages also socio-political and economic said, “May I take this opportunity to came from the governments of The process generally development. I am confident, Prime affirm my commitment to further Malaysia, Grenada, as well as involves scrutiny of the Minister, that you have played and will enhancing the existing cordial relations the Organisation of American agencies’ programme of continue to play a pivotal role in securing between our two countries and States. expenditure for recurrent and a sound democratic State thus, ensuring peoples”. capital projects for the a legacy of prosperity, security and stability for your country”. ensuing fiscal year commencing April 1, 2004 and ending on March 31, 2005. Friday February 27th 2004 Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE 3 from page 1 The St. Lucian Prime Minister also addressed the state banquet at the Sandals Grande Resort on Sunday February 22nd 2004. The following is the AAA NATIONNATIONNATION ATATAT 252525 full text of the address at the banquet. “In the long march of time, history is full of ironies, strange twists and unexpected conclusions. In the tunnel of time, many intense rivalries, bitter feuds and epic struggles lose their poignancy and in the end, when the whirlwinds settle, all that is left are echoes of the vanity of men, the folly of nations and underlying it all is the lesson of the elemental humanity of which we all partake.