PM Douglas says Government committed to educating the youth, reminds students of the sacrifices their parents make

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 4TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said his four-term Labour Party Administration remains committed to educating the youth in the twin-island Federation. Dr. Douglas addressing the six students who are recipients of scholarships from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and their parents, the St. Kitts and Nevis leader said despite the challenges of the global economic and financial crisis, his government “will never do anything to undermine the opportunity that we can provide for our young people to advance themselves in education, learning skills and acquiring the knowledge to move our country forward.

(Left to right) – Donya Lynex Francis, Ms. Cassandra Ward, His Excellency Miguel Tsao, Mr. Bevis Brookes; Ketricia Finch; Hon. Nigel Carty; Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas; Abigail Liburd; Miguel Flemming; Mrs. Ione Liburd-Willett; Jermine Mike and President of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony

Also in attendance were Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Miguel Tsao, Minister of Education, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ione Liburd-Willett and President of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony and parents and family members of the awardees.

Congratulating the scholarship winners for the opportunity for their own personal, professional development and advancement as young people, Prime Minister Douglas urged them to cherish the opportunity.

“It is not something that has come simply just by the way. It has been achieved because you have been seriously looked at. You have been assessed against the background of your own academic achievements of the past and your own prospect for development in the future,” he said.

“You must see it as an opportunity to prepare yourselves to return to St Kitts and Nevis. Wherever you are and whatever you do in the future, you must remember that you are a proud citizen of this country, representing this country wherever you are in the world thereafter. You must not take this opportunity for granted,” said Dr. Douglas.

“You are ambassadors of St. Kitts and Nevis when you go to Taiwan. You must be proud Ambassadors of St. Kitts and Nevis in Taiwan. Whatever you do, your performance at school, the way you talk, the way you walk, the company you keep, the social activities that you are being engaged in, always remember that you are demonstrating publicly where you have come from St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Douglas, adding:

“Whatever you do must be done with pride, integrity, decency and dignity. These must always be the hallmarks against which you perform in Taiwan.”

Front Row (left to right) – Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony; Hon. Nigel Carty; Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas; Mrs. Tsao; Ambassador Tsao and Mrs. Ione Liburd-Willett with other officials, students, parents and family members

Prime Minister Douglas in his brief remarks also admonished the students to be aware at all times of the scarf ices that their parents make to educate them.

“I want to emphasize, the sacrifices that your parents and your family members would have made to bring you to where you are and the sacrifices they would continue to make while you go off to study. Some of you may be very young may not have had the opportunity to start a family, but nevertheless your parents would have nurtured you, financed you, walked with you, assisted you through school, through college, whether locally or abroad and now further sacrifice is being given on their part for you to go yet again to further your studies,” said Dr. Douglas.

“You would never understand the pain that maybe some of them must fear. The days when they will go without a proper meal, because they have sent you the money abroad so that you could have a proper meal. You would never understand maybe the tears that they would have shed at nights because of their love for you with your departure, when maybe you would have called because you’ve gotten into some difficulties abroad and their hearts pain with the difficulty that you are experiencing; the sacrifices that your parents, your relatives and your families must make for your own advancement,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.

He called on the students who would be attending various universities in Taiwan to “show gratitude to your parents, your families, those who would be left behind to carry the burden while you are out there pursuing your own personal advancements. This is the reality of life.”

“I am very proud of you, very, very proud of you and please for God sake – Make us proud,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He used the opportunity to congratulate the parents and thanked the Government and People of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its Resident Ambassador His Excellency Miguel Tsao for the assistance over the years.