The five-day State visit to Bermuda of the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas proved to be a stimulating round of social, cultural and political events set in train by Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown.

The warmth of the Bermudian hospitality and its historical significance was acknowledged many times over by the Prime Minister with his eloquent citation of the familial and symbiotic bonds between the island homelands. He underscored elements of those bonds firstly in his address to the House of Assembly and later at a luncheon in his honour at Commissioners House, in the Dockyard, the centre of attraction for wave after wave of his people in the late 1800s and early 20th century.

Also, he spoke from the pulpit of Christ Anglican Church in Devonshire, the parish where many of his own kin settled as farmers after the First World War.

Dr. Douglas noted that "the Sunday morning service was taking place on the 32nd anniversary of the untimely passing of our first Premier and National Hero, the Rt. Excellent, Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw. Many of you here are relatives of this West Indian icon and statesman, who dedicated his entire life to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and the entire Caribbean. I am convinced that he would be pleased to know that we are honouring his memory today in the company of the descendants of a people that he served and loved dearly, many of whom, like myself, have followed in his footsteps, in the service of our beloved countries."

Sunday night at a Town Hall meeting more that 100 St. Kitts and Nevis nationals living in Bermuda were enthralled for nearly three hours as he updated them on current happenings at home with respect to politics, the economy, tourism, education and social issues. Afterwards, he took questions from the audience about opportunities to purchase property in the federation, citizenship; the impact of his government's closure of the St. Kitts Sugar factory and how St. Kitts' tourism has benefited from casino gambling.

Dr. Douglas has been Prime Minister for 15 years. Following his formal welcome by both Premier Brown and Opposition Leader Kim Swan, the Premier told the MPs and the radio audience, that connection between his Federation and the people of Bermuda has resulted in a social and economic symbiosis, the positive ramifications of which are, today, clear for all to see:

"Bermuda benefited from the dedication of the Kittitians and Nevisians who came here to be part of the infrastructural transformation process; Kittitians and Nevisians benefited from the opportunities provided by Bermuda to effectively transform a vision into reality. Most importantly, the uncertainties that had plagued the unmet needs of both parties, were soon transformed into tangible and quantifiable progress for all.

"I am deeply honoured to have been invited to address this august institution and to bring greetings to the Government and fine people of Bermuda, on behalf on my own Government and the proud people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

"Yours is a country that figures prominently in the hearts and minds of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. Indeed, our interest in the Bermuda islands has been both substantial and of very long standing – and for very good reasons.

"The mere idea, Mr. Speaker, that there is a Kittitian community in Bermuda, with whom I will have the honour of interacting, bears powerful testimony to the extent of the bonds that connect our worlds. And it bears testimony to the emotional, familial, and historical linkages between the people of our islands and the people of Bermuda.

"If anyone doubts the strength of these bonds, your Gombey troupes and our Masquerades stand ready to colourfully, dramatically, and vibrantly convince them otherwise."

The Prime Minister said he was made aware that some 60 percent of Bermudan families can trace their ancestry, in some way, to St. Kitts and Nevis.

"This statistic pleases me. It pleases me because I am keenly aware of the strength, the resilience, and the determination of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. And we all know that throughout the world, the people of Bermuda are respected for their sense of focus, for their discipline, for their standards.

"I chose to believe, therefore, Mr. Speaker, that these positive traits being common to both your people and mine, are best explained by our shared genealogy.

"It is said, Mr. Speaker, that out of travail often comes triumph. And I do believe that the intersecting and interlocking histories of your islands and mine bear this point out:

"Many years ago the phenomenal infrastructural development that created opportunities for employment in Bermuda, was the pull factor for Kittitians and Nevisians of courage and determination who ventured into the unknown, those many years ago ... to make their way to a land they had never seen and circumstances of which they could not be sure – all in their determination to build a better life for themselves and those who depended on them.

"Today therefore, on behalf of my Government and people, I will formalise that cultural cooperation and bond between our people, which will open yet another chapter in the history of our people and our respective countries.

"This we must do all that we can to save our youth. This we must do from Bermuda to Guyana, and from Barbados to Belize, if we are to save and resurrect, re-energise and restore, all that for so long had made our islands the jewels in the African-world crown.

"It has been a distinct and highly valued honour to address this august body. I am pleased to have been able to share my views and recommendations on some of the challenges that we as a Caribbean people and as island governments, share.

"I shall return to St. Kitts and Nevis energised by this important and valued opportunity, and, Mr. Speaker, I shall return to St. Kitts and Nevis ever mindful of the fact that the blood that unites us is stronger than the water that divides us."

The Prime Minister said he was humbled by the very warm welcome he had received since his arrival in Bermuda. He said he looked forward to cementing a relationship with Bermuda and would look into having his archivist come to Bermuda to thoroughly research the connecting relationships and geneology of the Kittitians and Nevisians with Bermudians.