Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, January 29, 2026 (PMO) — The Authorities of St. Kitts and Nevis has accredited the institution of a brand new nationwide vacation to commemorate the historic Buckley’s Rebellion, with impact from January 28, 2027. From that yr onward, January 28 will probably be noticed yearly as a nationwide vacation, marking some of the pivotal moments within the Federation’s battle for employees’ rights, social justice, and dignity.
The main nationwide announcement was shared with the general public by Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure et al., and elected consultant for St. Christopher #3, throughout the 91st Anniversary Commemoration of the Buckley’s Rebellion, held on January 28, 2026, at Buckley’s Property.
Talking on the ceremony, Minister Maynard confirmed that the Cupboard led by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew has accredited the mandatory course of to formally designate January 28 as a nationwide vacation, underscoring the Authorities’s dedication to making sure the legacy of the rebellion is completely enshrined within the nation’s collective reminiscence.
Talking on the Ceremony, Prime Minister Drew, in his remarks, famous the announcement as each well timed and vital, noting that the Buckley’s Rebellion of 1935 was not solely a defining nationwide second, however one which reverberated throughout the Caribbean and the broader world.
“It [The Buckley’s Uprising] was not solely an area occasion, it was not solely a regional occasion. It was a world occasion, as a result of the rebellion right here despatched shockwaves all the best way to the east and to Africa, and despatched a message to all oppressed individuals that you would be able to stand up and ask to your true liberation”, Prime Minister Drew stated. “Honouring this second with a nationwide vacation ensures that these sacrifices are by no means forgotten and that future generations perceive the worth paid for the rights we take pleasure in at the moment.”
The Prime Minister additional emphasised that the observance of a nationwide vacation is a part of a broader, deliberate effort by the Authorities to deepen historic consciousness, strengthen nationwide id, and reinforce the values of unity, equality, and social justice that proceed to information the Federation’s growth.
Minister Maynard, addressing the gathering at Buckley’s Property, additionally described the choice as a victory for historic reality and cultural consciousness, highlighting the decades-long efforts of group and cultural custodians who’ve saved the reminiscence of the rebellion alive.
“That is hallowed floor,” Minister Maynard stated. “What started right here in 1935 helped to form Caribbean democracy and laid the inspiration for labour rights and social reform. By recognising January 28 as a nationwide vacation, we’re lastly giving this chapter of our historical past the nationwide honour it deserves.”
The nationwide vacation will complement ongoing initiatives to protect and promote the legacy of the Buckley’s Rebellion, together with the development of a monument at Buckley’s Property, the mixing of the rebellion into the nationwide faculty curriculum, and expanded public training and commemoration actions.
The Authorities of St. Kitts and Nevis reaffirmed that the formal observance of Buckley’s Rebellion Day represents a long-lasting dedication to remembering the sacrifices of those that stood towards injustice, whereas inspiring continued progress towards a extra simply, inclusive, and empowered society.
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