Sunday, June 14th, 2026 will be forever etched in our hearts as we learned of the passing of 1 of our local political leaders and icon.
80-year-old Hugh C. Heyliger who was a former Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis passed away on Sunday. Hon. Hyliger who hails from Sandy Point was also an educator who taught for many years.
He was the Director of the Planning Unit of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis from 1980 to 1984 during the People’s Action Movement (PAM) led government which was headed by Hon. Dr. Kennedy Simmonds.
Further, he held ministerial responsibility for Agriculture, Lands, Housing and Development in 1989 and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education in 1994. However, following new elections in 1995, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition until the year 2000 when he lost his seat.
Mr. Heyliger continued to contribute to nation building through education and institutional advancement, as he was a trained Economist, he later served as Director of Institutional Development at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, where his experience in planning, policy, and public administration remained valuable. Later, he was honoured for his years of service, his commitment to public life, and his role in shaping the development of St. Kitts and Nevis.
