LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 33rd Anniversary of the Inde-
pendence of St. Kitts and Nevis

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
just tribute to the cultural heritage of the ethnic groups which
comprise and contribute to the richness and diversity of the community
of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in keeping with its time-ho-
nored traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to commem-
orate the 33rd Anniversary of the Independence of St. Kitts and Nevis;
and
WHEREAS, The people of this great State and nation and St. Kitts and
Nevis enjoy a deep and abiding relationship rooted in kinship and
culture; and
WHEREAS, The smallest nation in the Americas, St. Kitts and Nevis
celebrates its Independence Day on September 19th of every year; the
country officially gained its independence from the United Kingdom on
September 19, 1983; and
WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas
landed on the islands in 1493, and named it "Saint Kitts" in honor of
his patron saint, Saint Christopher; it was in 1623 when Saint Kitts
became Britain's first territory in the West Indies as Nevis was later
colonized in 1628; and
WHEREAS, The French also arrived to Saint Kitts and settled at the
town of Basseterre; the French and British had amicably shared Saint
Kitts for a while, however, by the mid-17th Century sporadic fighting
between the two had ensued; and
WHEREAS, Prior to these successful colonies, French Huguenot refugees
tried to set up as far back as 1538, only to be raided by the Spanish;
and
WHEREAS, In 1664, the French forced the British from Saint Kitts and
in 1689, the French were driven out by the British; for a brief period
in the early years of the 18th century, the French forces reclaimed the
island and they did this again in 1782; and
WHEREAS, However, in 1783, France finally gave up its claim on Saint
Kitts to Great Britain by signing the Treaty of Paris; and
WHEREAS, Since that time, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and the Brit-
ish Virgin Islands were governed as a single colony by the British; the
Leeward Islands Federation joined together Saint Kitts, Nevis, and
Anguilla as a British dependency in 1871; and
WHEREAS, In 1967, Saint Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla became an auton-
omous member of the West Indies Associated States; the British placed
Anguilla under its direct rule in 1971, and in 1980, Anguilla was offi-
cially removed from the dependency; and
WHEREAS, The 33rd Anniversary of St. Kitts and Nevis's Independence
provides an opportunity to recognize the significance of its contrib-
utions to the quality and character of life, and, through events and
activities, for all people to gain a greater appreciation of its history
and traditions, and of the role it has played, and will continue to
play, in our society; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
recognize such events of significance which foster ethnic pride and
exemplify the cultural diversity that represents and strengthens the
fabric of the people and the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 33rd Anniversary of St. Kitts and Nevis.