St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas (R) admires a wooden replica of the monument to the Federation's First National Hero, Sir Robert Bradshaw, as Chief Secretary Joseph Edmeade looks on. (Photo by Erasmus Williams)

Resident Cuban Ambassador to St Kitts and Nevis, Ana Maria Gonzalez, and prominent Cuban sculptor, Andres Gonzalez, briefed St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas, on his meetings with several government officials and the Committee organising the activities to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Bradshaw’s birth.

A visit was also made to look at the site for the erection of the monument.

Douglas announced last September that a memorial is to be erected in his birthplace of St Paul’s and his home at Fortlands will be turned into a museum.

"The year of activities will include the erection of a monument in his birth village of St Paul’s and the transformation of his home at Fortlands, Basseterre, 'Bradshaw’s House' into a Museum that will display his papers, his collection of art and artifacts that tell the full story of his achievements from a simple and humble life of sacrifice, commitment, dedication and hard work that is a powerful message to the youths of this fair land of beauty, our proud Federation of St Kitts and Nevis," said Douglas.

The highpoint of the activities is expected to culminate on September 16, 2007 with the unveiling of the monument in a designated area in St Paul’s.

Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw was born at St Paul’s Village, St Kitts on the 16th September 1916 and died on May 23, 1978.

Regarded as the "Father of Independence," Bradshaw had long been an advocate of independence for the State of St Kitts-Nevis and Anguilla. When his Labour Party won all of the seats in St Kitts in December 1975 with a mandate to take the State into independence, he conducted independence talks with the United Kingdom Government in London in 1976 and 1977.