The Most Rev. Bishop Donald J. Reece

Hon. Eleston Adams – Chairman of the Independence Implementing Committee

Hon. Trevor Walker – Representative for Barbuda and other members of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Members of the Independence Oversight and Implementing Committees

Specially invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good Morning!

One November 1 1981, Antigua and Barbuda opened a new page in its history. It was a new page in history that meant our twin island nation was prepared to work towards improving the lot of its people. It called for every citizen to accept their role to work towards avoiding what has kept us back. It meant having pride in our nation.

Today, we launch the celebrations marking the 25th year since that great moment in our nation’s history which was championed by the late father of our nation V.C. Bird Sr.

The lowering of the union jack and the hoisting of the national flag of Antigua and Barbuda during the early hours of November 1, 1981 a few hundred feet away from where we are today blossomed in all Antiguans and Barbudans a great sense of pride. Pride in freedom and Pride of ownership of our destiny.

Over a number of years since 1981, the luster we had in our great nation dwindled. Today, we can be proud of the fact that as a calypsonian sang this year, “People are walking holding their heads high in the streets – the Pride is back.”

As we launch the celebrations today, let it be a motivator to reinforce in us the commitment to self-determination. Let it encourage us to look forward to a better tomorrow and teach us about the hurdles Antigua and Barbuda had to overcome in attaining sovereignty.

Our silver jubilee celebration is the opportunity for us to revisit and revitalize that pride that overwhelmed our nation on November 1, 1981.

Today, we can be proud that Antigua and Barbuda was the first country in the Leeward and Windward Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean to achieve Associated Statehood.

We can be proud that V.C. Bird Sr. made that journey to Lancaster House in London in 1980 which led to our full independence.

We can be proud that Antigua and Barbuda now has a strong voice in the International Community with our creditors smiling with us again

We can be proud that our nation has a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

We can be proud that we are free to publicly air our views without fear.

We can be proud that our nation’s economy is on the rebound.

We can be proud that Antiguans and Barbudans lead good lives compared to many in other Caribbean countries and further a field.

We can be proud that our nation’s young people have a more secure and brighter future.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Antiguans and Barbudans:

Despite some of the negatives we have been hearing, many of our young people are also symbols of pride for our nation.

Many of our young people hold top positions in government and the private sector. They continue to make us proud through the many successes in the field of education.

Never before, in the history of Antigua and Barbuda have we had so many young Antiguans and Barbudans studying in universities abroad and via online universities.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda recognizes that in order to maintain the “pride is back” philosophy which is once again becoming common place among Antiguans and Barbudans, we must invest heavily in our young people.

Investing in our young people creates a culture of excellence that uplifts our nation and positions us to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist. Simply put, the pride of the people twinned with a government for the people, results in economic growth and development.

On January 1, I announced that a major aspect of our silver jubilee celebrations will be the awarding of twenty five scholarships to deserving and qualified young Antiguans and Barbudans.

Through the hard work of our Permanent Representative at the United Nations Ambassador Dr. John Ashe, we have secured 15 scholarships from the Government of Malaysia and 3 scholarships from the Government of Greece.

Recently we announced that through the work of Ambassador David Shoul, the People’s Republic of China donated ten scholarships to study any discipline in that country.

In addition, a few days ago, my government graciously accepted as a contribution to our Silver Jubilee Celebrations, two full scholarships for two Antiguan and Barbudan students to study towards a Bachelors degree in mechanical and electrical engineering at the University of the West Indies from the Antigua Power Company Limited.

We are also receiving indications that others are preparing to share their pride in our nation and join with the government to invest in our young people.

So you can see, as it was with the floating of the Treasury Bills and Bonds, our scholarship drive for young nationals, have been oversubscribed. Not only the pride is back, but confidence in the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda is strong.

The Government expresses its heartfelt appreciation to Ambassadors Ashe and Shoul and Mr. Francis Hadeed of Antigua Power Company Limited for their hard work and generous contributions, as we work towards securing and embracing the future together.

Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce the individuals who have been successful in their application for the three scholarships to study in Greece.

- The first successful student is Ms. Sandrena Martin. She is a former student of the Ottos Comprehensive School and the Antigua State College. This week Sandrena also learnt that she was successful in passing five A’Level subjects. Sandrena has chosen to study Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

- Our second scholarship recipient is Damien Barnes. He is a former student of the Antigua Grammar School and the Antigua State College. Damien was also successful in passing the three A’Level subjects he sat a few months ago. Damien has opted to study Computer Science.

- Our final Greek scholarship awardee is Devin Jeffrey of Barbuda. Devin is a former student of the Holy Trinity School in Barbuda and the Antigua State College. He was also successful in attaining passes for the three A’Level subjects he sat a few months ago. Devin will pursue studies in Medicine and Information Technology.

Please join me in congratulating the first group of Silver Jubilee Scholarship recipients!!

All three students will commence their studies in Greece in October. The scholarships for studies in Malaysia and China commencing in 2007 will be publicized in the media commencing next month.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Another symbol of pride in our nation which exhibits the strength of our democracy is our House of Parliament. It is a representation of all Antiguans and Barbudans by birth and by choice.

Since its opening in 1981, our current House of Parliament has served this nation well. Sadly today it does not possess the ability to meet the requirements of a legislative facility that meets the challenges of the technological era.

On November 30, as part of our Silver Jubilee Celebrations, we will open and hold a Joint Sitting of our newly constructed House Parliament on Queen Elizabeth Highway.

The Joint Sitting of Parliament will be a representation of our history and the uniqueness of Antigua and Barbuda. We will welcome a Royal Representative of Her Majesty the Queen along with the newly appointed Prime Minister of Jamaica Mrs Portia Simpson-Miller.

During our festivities marking our Silver Jubilee of Independence, we will host some of the region’s literary champions for the Inaugural Caribbean Literary Arts Festival and hundreds of medical practitioners for American University of Antigua Medical Symposium.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As the national flags waved during the carnival celebrations, may our national flag be flown from today throughout our nation – signifying that we are proud to be citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda.

Proud to be called an Antiguan and Barbudan.

Proud to say that we love our country

Proud to say, like the Irish Literary critic George Bernard Shaw, that we are patriotic because our country is superior to all others because we were born here or we belong here.

Let us all proudly fly our national flag as a symbol of our past, our future and the strength of our people to embrace the future together.

May our Silver Jubilee Independence celebrations be a joyous and historic reunion celebrating the traditions, the essences and the aspirations that make Antigua and Barbuda a truly unique microcosm of the Caribbean.

May we celebrate a new dawn for a nation in re-birth, proclaiming that “Antigua and Barbuda - One Family embraces all of us facing our future together.

May we all embrace the celebrations as an all-inclusive effort that reaches out to every person, every section and every community in our two island nation.

I urge every citizen and resident, individual and corporate, to participate to the fullest extent possible and give God thanks for bringing us this far.

Let us all demonstrate pride in our nation Antigua and Barbuda.

May God Bless us all.

May God Bless Antigua and Barbuda.

Thank you very much.

Digital photos by Maurice F. Merchant