Following the passing of Kittitian historian, legendary educator and community activist Washington “Washie” Archibald on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris has paid tribute to his legacy and contribution.
“The Government and people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis join with them to mourn the profound loss of an educator and political commentator, who will best be remembered for his passion for helping adult learners and persons with learning disabilities. Washington Archibald spent many years in the education profession.
From 1951 to 2009 he served as a teacher and principal at various government schools, and at St Theresa’s Convent School, now the Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Mr. Archibald also established his own private school, The St. Kitts Business College, and later founded and ran Project Strong. Mr. Archibald also served as an editor and regular contributor to The Democrat newspaper. He also wrote for the Opron Star newspaper which was based on Market Street, Basseterre.
Washington Archibald was one of seven outstanding nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis who were conferred with the Independence 2015 Awards for their contribution to the development of the Federation and it was indeed a distinct pleasure for me to witness him being honoured with the Companion Star of Merit (CSM) award for his contribution to education,” wrote PM Harris in a statement released from his Office.
Meanwhile Former Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Clecton Phillip, a Newtowner by birth, had this tribute to pay to a fellow Newtowner Washington Archibald. “The indomitable, irreplaceable Washie lived his life an altruistic patriot. He was a visionary in education, par excellence. He was a transformative thinker, undaunted by the inevitable challenges associated with shaking up an entrenched social, economic and political system that favoured the small, privileged elite over the underserved majority.
Washie’s ideas for economic development, as I see it, could be characterised in a few simple words…”spread the wealth around”. Washie, in a perfectly imperfect human way, called it as he saw it, regardless of where the chips fell, sometimes unfairly to his disadvantage. Nevertheless, as a true patriot driven blindly by a purpose of the common good and with unrelenting passion he persevered. The rest, as they say, “is (a) history(an)”…pun intended!
Phillip mentioned that Archibald was among the first to call for the legalization of marijuana.
“It would be remiss of me if I did not mention this…Washie was the first strong public advocate that I know, of recent times, who advised that Caribbean leaders ought to legalise marijuana and establish it as a leading export crop that would create wealth and opportunities for many Caribbean people. He warned that, in this regard, if we didn’t utilise our unique enabling environment for agriculture and market legal marijuana as a premium brand product, we may be too late and would lose that opportunity to the developed countries. I think it is safe to say that so far the VISIONARY WASHIE was again right”.Phillip declared.