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