BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, September 20, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The 35th Independence Day Parade ceremony, one of the most highly anticipated events on St. Kitts and Nevis’ annual Independence calendar of activities, saw the largest turnout of armed and unarmed units on display in front of a huge and appreciative crowd at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, September 19.
The parade was made up of armed units of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, Coast Guard and Cadet Corps and the unarmed units from the Customs and Excise Department, Girl Guides and Brownies, the Boy’s Brigade, Pathfinders and the Explorers Youth Clubs.
At the end of the marvelous display of discipline and uniformity by all units on parade, Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, announced that it was the young recruits of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) or Platoon No. 6 that was the Best Armed Body on display during the Federation’s 5th Independence ceremonial parade, while the Customs and Excise Department was recognized as the Best Unarmed Body.
While making his annual Toast to the Nation at the Defence Force Headquarters at Camp Springfield, Prime Minister Harris congratulated all the participating units on “what has been described as one of the best parades we have had since Independence 1983.”
“I want to commend the excellence and the precision which were displayed this morning [September 19] by armed bodies and unarmed bodies. Today has been a wonderful day, and the spirit of nation building lives on,” said Dr. Harris.
The prime minister continued, “I want to commend all the young persons who took part in the parade, in particular, the largest body which was the Explorers group attached to the Ministry of National Security. I gather there were some 300 strong and we commend them. We look to the future with hope; we look to the future knowing that the future must be better than the past.”
Also on display at the Independence ceremony parade this year were the Honour Guards from the Taiwan Arm Forces.
Prime Minister Harris extended special appreciation to what he described as “the largest representation of visiting dignitaries” for St. Kitts and Nevis Independence celebrations.
