Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 8, 2016) — The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis has come in for high praise from the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Shawn K. Richards, for the role it has been playing in the development of the people of the Federation in all spheres of life.
“The name of the bank is the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis and certainly the bank is living up to its name in terms of the development of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Hon Richards, who is also the Federal Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.
“Apart from its core business function, which is to assist local persons with development be it for business or other purposes, the bank goes beyond that and has been providing assistance in other areas of our development.”
The Deputy Prime Minister made the remarks Thursday (July 7) afternoon at a function held in the Board Room of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis where he received a cheque of $5,000 from the bank’s Support Officer for Marketing Ms Vernitha Maynard in aid of Ms Alsanarda Hanley, the reigning National Carnival Miss Swimwear Queen.
Winner of the inaugural National Carnival Miss Swimwear Pageant, Ms Hanley who was sponsored by the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for the competition, will be representing the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Miss Venus Caribbean Pageant which will be held in Anguilla on July 22-23.
“Development Bank has indicated it would have come on board during our recent carnival celebrations and would have sponsored Ms Hanley,” observed Hon Richards. “Of course the bank could have taken a decision to end its sponsorship at that particular point in time and not to provide any further assistance. However, that has not been the case and as such we must commend the bank.”
The Deputy Prime Minister said he was aware that the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis also continues to sponsor different sporting organisations, and that in itself shows the commitment it has towards development of the people in other spheres of their lives, be it in terms of culture, or in terms of the preforming arts.
“But I think more importantly the young lady who is here with us, Ms Hanley, will be able to further develop herself be it modelling skills, be it interviewing skills, or be it for general self-confidence,” added Hon Richards.
“As such I say a very special word of ‘thanks’ to the Development Bank for continuing to partner with not just the Carnival Committee but with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis; partnering to ensure that indeed you continue to help to develop our people here in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
In presenting the cheque to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Development Bank’s Support Officer for Marketing Ms Vernitha Maynard said that he bank was always excited and elated to support the National Carnival Committee in instances like those adding that it came on board sponsoring participants quite a number of years ago and that it continues to do so.
“We did it last December and again now we are sponsoring in the amount of $5,000 for Ms Alsanarda Hanley to appear in the Miss Venus Caribbean Pageant that will be held in Anguilla,” said Ms Maynard. “So on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, we present the cheque to the minister in the amount of $5,000.”
Accompanying the Hon Shawn Richards was the National Carnival Committee Chairman, Mr Noah Mills, and Mr Charles Thomas, an executive chairperson with the St. Kitts National Carnival Committee. Mr Mills also took time to thank the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for its continued sponsorship of Ms Alsanarda Hanley.
“Here we are today having met with them (Development Bank) just a few weeks ago and expressing the desire once again to partner as we send Ms Alsanarda Hanley off to Anguilla to participate in the 2016 Miss Venus Caribbean Pageant,” said Mr Mills.
“They were very elated to come on board hence they are here today to turn out a cheque which will be as a sort of supplementary support for Ms Alsanarda Hanley to be paired with the contribution from the National Carnival Committee, as well as the Ministry of Culture to aid her in her finances as she travels abroad.”
Mr Mills later revealed that his committee, along with the Ministry of Culture, would have jointly given over $50,000 to the four winners of the Sugar Mas competitions (Ms Hanley among them) in financial assistance towards their participation in regional shows to be held in the upcoming months.
“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for helping me prepare for the upcoming pageant which I will be entering on the 22nd and 23rd of this month in Anguilla,” said Ms Alsanarda Hanley.
“Your financial help is a great help and I hope to successfully win the crown so that I can make you guys proud. To the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, I would just like to say how thankful I am for your financial help in aiding me to participate in the Miss Venus Caribbean Pageant to be held in Anguilla.”