The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Congratulates Guyanese Community on 54th Independence Day

The NextGen SKN Labour Party congratulates the government and people of Guyana on the 54th Anniversary of its Independence.

The Independence Anniversary this year is indeed a very special one as Guyana stands poised to usher in a new era of social and economic prosperity.   As you celebrate this day, it is our hope that it will also provide a moment for deep reflection on the hard-won gains that your country has made over the last fifty-four years and foment a renewed commitment to working together in defense of the principles and ideals that underpin Guyana as a democratic, fair and just society.

The Guyanese community is an important part of our immigrant population who have adopted St. Kitts and Nevis as their new home. They are a hard-working people who have become well integrated into our society and contribute in significant ways to our churches, our schools, our work places and the business ventures that they pursue. The people of St. Kitts and Nevis owe a debt of gratitude to our Guyanese community.  Many are descendants of those intrepid souls who would have come to our assistance during the final years of our Sugar Industry when we needed more labourers to assist with our harvest.   Even more have come to St. Kitts and Nevis under CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) free movement of skills arrangements and now work in our hospitality industry and other areas.

Historically, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has been at the forefront of the regional integration movement and has played an integral role in shaping the present thrust towards easing restrictions on free movement, especially of skilled workers, and protecting the contingent rights of all CARICOM nationals.  The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party therefore takes this opportunity to reassure our Guyanese brothers and sisters that they will be an important part of our vision for taking our country to the next level. As fellow CARICOM nationals, especially those with whom we share such a rich history, we embrace the Guyanese Community as a source of skills and talent.

The NextGen SKN Labour Administration will ensure that our Guyanese Community, as well as other immigrant communities, will receive all the support needed to better integrate into our society and participate in the national prosperity agenda. A NextGen SKN Labour administration will build bridges with the Guyanese community – bridges to better understanding, opportunity, upward mobility and prosperity and will remove any obstacle standing in the way of their dreams and aspirations as citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Have a Happy Independence Day!