Former St Kitts-Nevis PM to deliver Emancipation Day lecture

Denzil Douglas, the former prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis, will be in St Maarten tomorrow as the keynote speaker at the third annual Emancipation Day Lecture

He was invited to the University of St Martin by the Independence for St Martin Foundation (ISMF) to speak on the theme ‘The Realities of Independence’

Douglas – who led St Kitts and Nevis from 1995 to 2015 – is due to speak at 8pm.

As well as current leader of the opposition, he is also a medical doctor and published a book of his speeches in 2009.

“It is an honour to have the former PM of the federation of St Kitts and Nevis accept our invitation and to share with the people of St Maarten the critical, behind the scenes, first hand and collective experiences of the most recent nation in the Caribbean to gain political independence,” said Joseph H Lake, Jr, president of the ISMF.

“Admission is free to the Emancipation Day lecture at USM. We’re inviting all of the St Maarten people to attend.

“There will be a question-answer period with Dr Douglas and a reception for the people to meet and talk with our keynote speaker.”

The official wreath laying at the Freedom Statue roundabout at WJA. Nisbeth Road and Sucker Garden Road takes place early morning of tomorrow morning.

The annual Emancipation Day family picnic starts at 1pm

It will include dance, musical performances, poetry, traditional food and drink and a fashion show of clothing from St Martin’s ‘traditional period’ (1848-1963), said organiser and head of the Voices Foundation Nkosazana Illis.