Public Holiday in 2024

Thursday, July 20th 2023 has been declared a National Day of Mourning by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, and a national half-holiday for the public and private sectors has been proclaimed by the Governor-General Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP to honour the life and contribution to the nation of the late Sir Tapley Seaton.

Tapley will be given a state funeral with full military honours on July 20th 2023.

Tapley’s body will lie in state at Government House from 9 am to 1 pm for public viewing and all flags on government buildings will be flown at half-staff on the same day.

The funeral will take place at 2 pm at the Moravian Church on Victoria Road.

A number of Caribbean leaders including the Governor of Antigua and Barbuda and President of Barbados will attend the funeral.

Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, KC, JP, LLD, who died on June 29, 2023, served as the Federation’s first Attorney-General after Independence from 1983-1995 and its fourth Governor-General of St Kitts and Nevis from 2015-2023.

Sir Tapley contributed significantly to the work of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society. In 1982, Sir Tapley joined the Society as a Life Member, and during that time, he supported former President, the late Sir Cecil Jacobs. Several years later, in July 2005, he was elected as Vice President of the Council, again providing invaluable support to the then President, the late Sir Probyn Innis. Sir Tapley served in that capacity until May 20, 2015, when he was elevated to the esteemed position of Governor-General.

He passed away on June 29th at the age of 72 years old.