CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 29, 2009) -- Premier and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration, Hon Joseph Parry, has singled out the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis as a positive change agent as far development in the island of Nevis is concerned.
“The Development Bank has been involved in assisting the development process,” commented Premier Parry. “Back in 1980 when we got in government one of the first institutions we got to open a branch in Nevis, in 1981, was the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis.”
The Premier, who last week Tuesday (March 24) held a closed door meeting with senior officials of the bank at his office in Bath Hotel, said that when the first NRP government had just taken over office in Nevis, they felt that there was need to have a financial institution which would assist Nevisians come off the ground on a solid financial footing.
Premier Parry was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Ashley Farrell, when he met one of the two Nevis-based directors of the Development Bank, Dr Telbert Glasgow, who was accompanied by General Manager Lenworth Harris and Manager, Delinquent Management Unit, David Fox.
“We (NRP-led Nevis Island Administration) felt that the bank would assist especially in working with the private sector and the small business people, assisting them not only with loans, but also assisting them with training in regard to entrepreneurship, and I have seen benefits of that over these years,” said Parry.
He explained that quite a number of persons have benefitted in the business field and that such small businesses are doing well more so because of the follow-up process the bank has articulated. He further observed that along with the National Foundation for Development and also the commercial banks, a seed of entrepreneurship was sown and that it has blossomed.
“That has been a very successful combination (Development Bank and other financial institutions),” said Premier Parry. “Also the bank has assisted a lot of people to go off to training and the university and other technical institutions.
“They have assisted in housing, they have assisted fishermen and farmers to get off the ground, and they have given them considerable support. The bank has been very helpful in the working with the government of Nevis and people of Nevis for the development of Nevis.”
Among the first recipients of Development Bank’s Student Loans Programme was Sonita Barrett (now Daniel) who studied Library Science. She is today, the Director of Nevis Library Services, and is also a director of the bank. Pearlievan Wilkin, who earned a Bachelor of Education retired recently as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture.
The first lot also included Mary Spooner who studied obtained BA with Commendation in Office Studies Management. A PhD holder, she is currently based overseas.. The other beneficiary was Jacqueline Brookes who studied BA Development and Bachelor of Education and is today a senior educator with the Nevis Island Administration.
