The State’s Art Festival of 1964 was his brainchild. Paul Southwell was elected to the St. Kitts Nevis & Anguilla Legislative Council in 1952 and was appointed to the Executive Council in 1955. and served as the First Minister of Communications and Works in 1956 when a ministerial system was introduced. His mother paid for a correspondence course from England and two boys from the Grammar School who worked in the Factory Laboratory helped him with his studies. He therefore shares the same birthday as Robert Bradshaw, the first National Hero and former Premier. Paul Southwell was appointed the position of Premier following the death of Bradshaw on 23 May 1978. BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — St. Kitts and Nevis’ National Heroes Park serves as a tangible link to the past of the twin-island Federation and is a valuable teaching tool for the younger generation. His successor was Vance Amory after his party, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) who won the election in 1992. Premier Bradshaw had long been an advocate of independence for the State of St. Kitts Nevis & Anguilla and when his Labour Party won all seats in St. Kitts in December 1975, he spearheaded independence talks with the United Kingdom’s leadership in 1976 and 1977. The honour was presented by His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Cuthbert Sebastian KCMG. In 1938 France was elected Secretary of the Workers’ League after the death of Mr. W.A.H. He had four children. He helped to re-shape the structure of the Trade and Labour Union into the nineteen (19) sections now existing. For two days in January, the island was in the throes of a labour disturbance arising mainly from a request of sugar workers for higher wages. The National Heroes Park, a multimillion-dollar facility is located along the Kim Collins Highway. When the territories of the English Speaking Caribbean formed themselves into the West Indies Federation in 1958, Robert Bradshaw ran for one of the legislative positions which he won and eventually became the Minister of Finance within the federal government which was headquartered in Trinidad. In January 1975, Premier Bradshaw’s government took possession, by law of all the estate lands in St. Kitts and in December 1976, his government successfully negotiated the take-over of the St. Kitts Sugar Factory. There are many special ceremonies held all over the country to honour present heroes and remember past ones. He had a record 38 years as a member of parliament. France served as “Member for Social” (from 1952) before the full Ministerial System was introduced in 1960. National Heroes Day was established in 1996 by the Saint Kitts and Nevis Federal Parliament with the passage of the National Honours Act.The first observance of the holiday was on 16 September 1998 to honor Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, the first Premier and … Southwell left behind his wife, Gladys Southwell and 11 children; 6 daughters and 5 sons. He suddenly died while attending a meeting of the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers in Castries St. Lucia as the territories of the Leeward and Windward Islands continued their efforts at closer political and economic unity.  Recipients of this honour are styled as "The Right Excellent". Affectionately known as the "Father of Independence," Bradshaw served as the first Premier of St. Kitts from 1967 until his death in 1978. He then became the Minister for Social Services (which included Education, Health and Social Affairs under the then Labour Administration headed by Paul Southwell, Chief Minister). In 2004, Paul Southwell was named a national hero. and which in 1921 started publication of a newspaper, “The Union Messenger,” edited by J. Matthew Sebastian, the father of His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian. Unfortunately, both his wife and younger daughter Isis, have since passed. However, Isis was not his first daughter. National Heroes celebrated in St. Kitts and Nevis By: Staff Reporter, SKNVibes.com BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PRIME MINISTER Dr. Timothy Harris has joined the rest of the Federation in recognising the efforts and energy of St. Kitts and Nevis’ National Heroes, on a day specifically designated for them.  The order was founded in 1998. Before the vacation was over France was offered a job as office boy with the St. Kitts-Nevis Universal Benevolent Association at its office on Cayon Street. Against this the Workers’ League presented a petition signed by 2,447 persons asking for the right to vote. Basseterre, St. Kitts, (September 16, 2015) —The Government of National Unity today (September 16) honoured in the traditional manner St. Kitts and Nevis’ four national heroes in a simple but profound wreath-laying ceremony at Robert Bradshaw’s Memorial Park in St. Paul’s. Southwell had a keen interest in the arts and in sports. Born in 1913, Southwell held … The day was first made a holiday to honour Robert Bradshaw, the only official national hero at the time, and Bradshaw’s birthday is the reason for the holiday’s date. Together they produced one daughter, Isis Carla Bradshaw. His membership was seconded by Harry Audain. Bradshaw began working at the age of 16 as a machine apprentice at the St. Kitts Sugar Factory. Eventually, France became a printer at the Progressive Printery Limited. Not only was Southwell deeply involved in the political arena in St. Kitts Nevis & Anguilla, but also the Caribbean at large. Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. He also held the title of Vice President of the Worker’s League, but his activities were not limited to the local scene. It started publication of the Union Messenger newspaper in 1921, edited by Joseph Matthew Sebastian. Since 1998, Saint Kitts and Nevis has observed 16 September as “National Heroes Day”. Paul Southwell was a policeman, politician, teacher, trade unionist and sports administrator. He also had another daughter, Etsu, who was from an earlier relationship. Daniel was the first Premier of Nevis from 19 September 1983 (Independence Day) to 2 June 1992. Southwell was also the Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Association and Chairman of the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers. Born on August 22, 1934 in the St. Thomas Parish, he was a founding member of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) in 1970. Back home after being called to the local Bar, he worked as a Crown Counsel, Registrar of the Supreme Court, Additional Magistrate, and Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He attained three Seventh Standard Certificates and even taught as a pupil teacher for a short while. Seaton. Unfortunately, his tenure lasted approximately one year. Daniel never recovered politically from that defeat and eventually retired from active politics heading back into his law practice and business. Dr. the Right Excellent and the Right Honourable Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds is the most recently named and only living National Hero. It features statues of five National Heroes: The late Right Excellencies Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw; Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell; Sir Joseph Nathaniel France; and Sir Simeon Daniel. A fitting day for a National Hero. France played his part amidst others and brought the Labour Movement through the issue with flying colours. The bill was debated in the Legislature and was defeated by weight of the combined opposition to Labour. But he soon left the classroom and switched to law in 1962. In hopes of having even more extensive constitutional changes, Southwell lead a delegation to London in 1959 which resulted in the introduction granting a full ministerial system in 1960.