Vance_Amory

Vance Amory

Vance Amory

Premier of Nevis and cricketer (1949–2022)

Vance Winkworth Amory (22 May 1949 – 2 April 2022[1]) was a Saint Kitts and Nevis politician and cricketer. He served two stints as Premier of Nevis, from 1992 to 2006 and from 2013 to 2017,[1] and served as the Minister of Sports in the Nevis Island Administration.[2] He founded and led the Concerned Citizens' Movement.[3] The airport in Nevis, Vance W. Amory International Airport, bears his name.

Quick Facts 2nd & 4th Premier of Nevis, Preceded by ...

Early life and career

Amory was born on 22 May 1949 in Rawlins Village.[4] He received his elementary, primary and secondary school education in Nevis.[4] He has been an active member of a local church in Nevis since childhood.[4]

Amory was known for his fondness for cricket.[4] An opening batsman, he played first-class cricket for the Combined Islands and the Leeward Islands from 1969 to 1981.[2] His highest score was 88, for Leeward Islands against Windward Islands in 1977–78, when he helped to ensure a draw after Leeward Islands trailed by 167 runs on the first innings.[5] In his last match he captained Leeward Islands against the touring English team in March 1981, scoring 37 and 56.[6] He suffered injuries during his career, including a broken nose that caused him to be carried off the field.[4]

Amory excelled academically, obtaining passes in 5 out of available 7 GCE 'O' level subjects at Charlestown Secondary School.[4] He subsequently achieved his 'A' grade levels in St. Kitts, and went on to the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.[4] Then he returned home in 1973 to teach students at Charlestown Secondary School.[4]

He taught at Gingerland Secondary School from 1974 to 1977, including a period of six months as acting headmaster.[4] Then, at the age of 28, he became the youngest headmaster of Charlestown Secondary School.[4] He took an institution that was lagging seriously behind and almost single-handedly restored acceptable grades and credibility.[4] The transition from GCE 'O' levels to CXC and the newly introduced sports programs were among some of the challenges that he overcame, despite opposition.[4] He assisted greatly with the education improvement of thousands during his days as teacher and principal.[4]

Between 1981 and 1983 Amory was manager of the St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla National Bank, during which time he aided many individuals in obtaining well needed financing.[4] That Bank was relatively new on Nevis and had its early difficulties.[4] Nevis residents were very cautious in doing business with the institution and Amory set his mind to change this.[4] The bank thereafter experienced healthy financial growth.[4] He was also instrumental in overseeing the purchase of the land on which National Bank sits today.[4]

Politics

In 1983, Amory applied for and successfully received a position in the finance department of the Nevis Island Government.[4] He was then promoted to Permanent Secretary in Finance, under the premiership of Dr. Simeon Daniel.[4] It was from that position that Amory learned the ins and outs of governance.[4] He took study leave in September 1986 to further his education at University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix campus.[7] He resigned his position in December of that year and reported that he wanted to dedicate himself for the betterment of Nevis.[4]

In 1987 he organised a political party, the Concerned Citizens Movement.[4] In 1992, he became Premier of Nevis and served until 2006.[4] His transformation of the face of Nevis can be seen in many facets. He played a substantial role in securing the funding for the construction of the airport.[4] There were numerous regulatory obstacles strewn in path of the airport development and numerous delays by the Basseterre Government (in Saint Kitts) in extending a loan guarantee.[4] His commitment to the successful completion of the project is one reason that the airport bears his name.[4] In 1996, he announced plans for Nevis to secede from St. Kitts, but the resulting 1998 referendum failed to reach the necessary two-thirds majority.[8] He was an elected member of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and served as the leader of the opposition[9] from 2000 to 2004.

Amory served a second term from 2013 to 2017.[1]

Death

Amory died of cancer in a London hospital on 2 April 2022, at the age of 72.[10]

References

  1. [1]
    Dixon, Loshaun (2 April 2022). "Former Premier of Nevis has passed". The St Kitts Nevis Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Premier of Nevis pledges continued support for cricket development". Caribbean Net News. 23 January 2006. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  3. [3]
    "Hon. Vance Amory". Government of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis. 21 January 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  4. [4]
    [dead link]
  5. [5]
    "Windward Islands v Leeward Islands, 1977/78". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Leeward Islands v England XI 1980/81". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  7. [7]
    "UVI Mourns the Passing of Former Premier Vance Amory". uvi.edu. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  8. [8]
    "Saint Kitts and Nevis (08/04)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. [9]
    "SKNVibes | Nevisian lawyer to be sworn in as Federation's Seventh Leader of the Opposition since Independence". sknvibes.com.
  10. [10]
    "Former Nevis Premier, Vance Amory is dead". CNW Network. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
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