BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, 18 th December 2025 – In an emotional moment
during the second day of the 2026 parliamentary budget debate, the Honourable Samal Duggins,
Minister of Creative Economy and Culture, led a solemn tribute to the late Janet Johnson, a
revered figure in national pageantry and culture, following a moment of silence observed by the
entire House.
The minister’s address began by celebrating the vibrant success of the recent Carnival launch and
the Republic Bank Talented Teen show, which drew thousands.
His remarks turned emotional as he recalled celebrating the new Talented Teen winner’s victory
alongside her mother, Janet Johnson, only to mourn her passing less than a day later.
He then formally requested a moment of silence for “the extraordinary Janet Johnson, who has
given her life to service of pageantry, of culture, and of artistic development. She has given her
entire life to it.”
Sharing a personal perspective, Minister Duggins recounted knowing Johnson for over twenty
years, from his own early days in entertainment. He remembered her as a perpetually vibrant and
supportive force within the cultural sector.
He remembered Johnson as a “bubbly, lively spirit” who “exuded vibrance” and was “very
supportive in so many ways.” In honouring her memory, Minister Duggins encouraged the nation
to embody Johnson’s celebratory spirit. He suggested the best way to pay tribute is to continue
fostering the vibrant cultural life she dedicated herself to, echoing the carnival sentiment she
would have championed: to let the celebration play on.
“I want to encourage us as we honour her to continue to celebrate as she did. Be as vibrant as she
was,” Duggins urged his colleagues and the nation. “When I looked at the video with her on
stage celebrating her daughter’s success, you saw her in living color.”
The tribute highlighted the profound personal connections within the nation’s cultural
community and underscored Janet Johnson’s foundational role in nurturing artistic talent.
Parliament’s collective pause served as a powerful recognition of a life dedicated to elevating St.
Kitts and Nevis’s creative spirit.
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