The Opposition Peoples Action Movement (PAM) in St. Kitts wants the ruling Labour Party Government there to designate Dr. Kennedy Simmonds a National Hero.

Rt. Hon. Dr. Sir. Kennedy Simmonds

Simmonds, the first Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, led the twin-island state into independence in September 1983. The call was made by Roy Fleming, PAM’s candidate in Constituency No. 2, during a recent birthday banquet held in St. Kitts in honour of Dr. Simmonds.

The St. Kitts-Nevis Federal Parliament passed the National Honours Act in 1998 which established three classes of award: The Order of National Hero, the Star of Merit, the Medal of Honour and a National Heroes’ Day. A standing National Awards Committee was established under the Act. Three persons have so far been made National Heroes: the late Premiers Robert Bradshaw and Paul Southwell and Parliamentarian Joseph France.

On September 16, 2004, Her Majesty The Queen accepted a recommendation from the current St. Kitts Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas, and bestowed the Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George on Dr. Simmonds.

That has nothing to do with the Order of the National Hero which bestows the title of Knight Commander on a recipient.

The Rt. Hon. Dr. Sir Kennedy Simmonds, who is now retired from political life, serves as Director of Medical Services in Anguilla. In 1980 “he placed no obstacles in the way of Anguilla’s formal separation from St. Kitts-Nevis.”

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