By: K. Gregory Hardtman, Chairman and CEO, Hardtman Group of Companies
On Friday night when the news broke of the killing of Mr. Everette ‘Ev’ Hanley while I was at my restaurant, I immediately closed the doors as a mark of respect for my fallen friend. To say that I was shocked, would be the understatement of the year. My heart broke for the departed gentleman and his family.
Ev ‘s untimely demise has highlighted the fickleness of life and again given credence to the maxim, ‘here one minute, gone the next’.
The reality is, St. Kitts- Nevis has lost a giant of a man, an honorable, honest, humble man; a man, ever the consummate professional, simply put, the nicest of men who embodied all of the positive attributes we all should thrive to emulate.
The banking institution where he worked has lost one of its greatest assets. You see, Ev was a man who not only knew his job to the letter, but had the uncanny knack to be able to translate the intricacies of banking so that every novice could understand at his level.
For the past month I have been in touch with Ev on a professional basis almost daily, and some days we would speak in excess of four times per day, and every time we spoke, whether it was the first call or the fourth call of the day, he always inquired about my well being, that of my family, and staff.
Today, a dark cloud of sorrow hangs over Nevis as we all mourn this stalwart.
On behalf of my family, myself, and the directors and staff of Tamarind Cove Marina Development Limited, Global Management and Consultancy Corporation Limited, Hardtman and Associates, Oualie Masonary Products Limited, Happy Endings Limited, Nevis Pages Limited, Advance Communications Limited, Blue Waters Limited, Fort Ashby Development Limited, Cades Bay Construction Limited, and Golden Rise Villas and Spa, I extend warmest and sincerest condolences to his wife, children and other family members.
Ev, may your soul rest in eternal peace.