Former Premier of Nevis and Former Senior Minister in The Federal Government His Excellency Ambassador Vance Winkworth Amory has died. He was 72 years old.
Vance Winkworth Amory was the Premier of Nevis from June 2, 1992, to July 11, 2006, and again from January 23, 2013, to December 2017. He founded and lead the Concerned Citizens’ Movement (CCM) from 1985 to 2017.
He was an ardent sportsman and represented Nevis, Combined Islands and the Leeward Islands in cricket. The main airport in Nevis, The Vance W. Amory International Airport, bears his name
Following the Team Unity 2015 General Election victory, Amory was appointed Senior Minister and Minister of Nevis Affairs, Labour, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs. He retired from active politics in 2020 and was appointed to the post of Ambassador in the Primes Minister’s Office following the 2020 elections.
Prime Minister Hon. Timothy Harris in a statement posted on social media wrote:
I am very saddened by the passing of Ambassador Vance Amory, my reliable friend, mentor and advisor, illustrious founding member of #TeamUnity. My condolences are with his loving wife Vernita his daughters, the rest of his family and wide circle of friends and well wishers. The people of #stkittsandnevis have lost our Elder Statesman. May his soul find eternal peace.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Shawn Richards in paying tribute wrote:
It was with much sadness that I learned earlier today, of the sudden passing of former Premier of Nevis, Ambassador Vance Amory. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, children and extended family.
I had the privilege of working with Ambassador Amory in the federal government of St. Kitts and Nevis from 2015-2020; he as Senior Minister and Minister of Labour and I as Deputy Prime Minister. I shall always remember him for the role he played, along with myself as Leader of the People’s Action Movement, PAM, and he as Leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement, CCM, jointly working with the Leader of the PLP, Dr Timothy Harris, to help fashion a government of national unity. He will be remembered for his tremendous work to advance the cause of his fellow Nevisians and the people of the federation in general.
Vance Amory was a committed citizen and leader, whose legacy of achievements should inspire future and present generations. At this moment of sorrow, our prayers and thoughts must be with the wife and family of our late colleague and former Premier of Nevis. Farewell my brother, Ambassador Vance Amory.
Amory died in London, England and leaves to mourn his wife and two daughters.