On its bottom edge, the coat of arms shows a lit sailboat, the transportation means of choice to ferry between the two islands. A red chevron is highlighted by two flowers –the National Flower of the flamboyant. On the top, the face of a native Indian comes with a fleur-de-lis and a red rose. They both stand for the original inhabitants (the Caribes) and the French settlers that arrived in 1620. On the upper edge, there is a helmet atop a battlemented tower with a flaming torch simultaneously in the hands of an African native, a dark-skin man and en European. The torch means freedom for all races that join this effort. The coat of arms is supported by two pelicans (the National bird), with overlong wings. Beside the two birds, a sugar cane and a coconut tree jut out together, thus meaning the fertility of the land. The Federation slogan reads: “a country above itself” written right under the coat of arms with the intention to render the foundation of it all.
Land of Beauty! Our country where peace abounds, Thy children stand free On the strength of will and love. With God in all our struggles, Saint Kitts and Nevis be A Nation bound together With a common destiny. As stalwarts we stand, For justice and liberty, With wisdom and truth We will serve and honour thee. No sword nor spear can conquer, For God will sure defend. His blessings shall for ever To posterity extend.
Flamboyant is St. Kitts & Nevis’ National Tree. After Monsieur de Poincy was appointed as St. Kitts’ first French governor, he introduced the flamboyant, a tree hailing from Madagascar. Flamboyant of one of the most striking tropical trees. It shows off an abundant foliage shaded with yellow and scarlet flowers that bloom in May and August. It grows rapidly, its roots require a deep soil and it can endure a dry climate.
The chestnut-colored pelican lays two to three opaque and white eggs in March and April, taking from 28 to 30 days before they are hatched. When young, its head, neck and upper body are chestnut-colored, whereas the lower body is white. As the bird grows, the color of its feathers darken, while its upper head turns white. They nestle in somewhat short trees and shrubs, and most of them are solitary feeders. The chestnut-colored pelican is an endangered species, but the population number has increased in recent years.
Roberto Llewellyn Bradshaw is the island nation’s National Hero. He was born in the St. Paul village, St. Kitts, on September 16, 1916. His first job was as an apprentice in the Saint Christopher sugar mill back in 1932. He was one of the may workers who held a hike out of the sugar mill after a scuffle with the owners over wage matters. When he and other workers went back to their jobs, they were fired. The St. Kiits & Nevis’ Worker and Trade Union was so founded, and Mr. Bradshaw became full member of the original Executive Committee. In 1945, he took part in the establishment of the Caribbean Work Congress, and was elected assistant first secretary.Mr. Bradshaw was appointed as Minister of Production and Trade.In 1958, he was elected for the legislature of the new Federation of the Eastern West Indies and was designed to serve as Minister of Finance. After the federation was dissolved in 1962, he returned home and retook his local legislative seat. After the July 1966 general elections, he was elected Chief Minister. On February 27, 1967, was elected as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth State of St. Kitts & Nevis, and Anguila. On January, 1975, Bradshaw’s government was sworn in by law and inaugurated on December 1976. His government successfully negotiated the handover of the Saint Christopher sugar mill. Prime Minister Bradshaw had long served as an advocate for the independence for the St. Kitts & Nevis islands. When his Labor Party won all the parliamentary seats during the December 1975 elections, he led the talks with the United Kingdom’s government to negotiate the independence for St. Kitts & Nevis between 1976 and 1977. Primer Minister Bradshaw passed away on May 23, 1978.
