Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew says the deeper meaning of independence goes beyond self-government, describing it as a responsibility to believe in, build and care for the country.
In an Independence Day message marking St Kitts and Nevis’ 43rd anniversary of independence on Saturday, Drew said the occasion was deeply personal because the twin-island federation was not only the country he serves, but his home.
‘Its people are my people,’ he said, adding that the country’s communities had shaped him, its values grounded him and its possibilities continued to inspire him.
Reflecting on the country’s progress, Drew said its achievements should not be attributed to any single government, institution or individual.
‘I see the work of generations,’ he said, pointing to the sacrifices of the country’s elders, the determination of workers, the ambition of young people, the strength of families and the enduring love of Kittitians and Nevisians at home and abroad.
‘That, to me, is the deeper meaning of independence,’ Drew said.
He said independence was not simply about the freedom to govern the country, but also about the responsibility to believe in and build for itself, care for one another and leave behind a country that is ‘stronger, fairer, and filled with greater opportunity’ than the one inherited.
‘We have achieved so much together. We have faced challenges together. And through it all, we have continued to move forward together,’ the Prime Minister said.
As the country marked 43 years of nationhood, Drew expressed gratitude for its people and confidence in the future.
‘There is so much more we can build, so much more we can achieve, and so much more we can become,’ he said.
Drew ended his message by expressing pride in being a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis and called for the country to remain ‘one people, connected by home, united by purpose, and inspired by endless possibility.’