Premier of Nevis and cricketer (1949–2022)
Vance Winkworth Amory (22 May 1949 – 2 April 2022[1]) was a Saint Kitts and Nevis politician, cricketer, banker, and educator. 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.
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 had 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 changing 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 that year and reported that he wanted to dedicate himself to 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 in the path of the airport's 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
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