Development Bank reaches out to communities in its 30th anniversary celebrations

Delivering on its promises — Bank’s Loan Management Unit manger, Mr David Fox, presenting the wiring material to the school’s head teacher Ms Kartuel Browne. Looking on are staff members and pupils of the school.

Basseterre St. Kitts (October 11, 2011) — As part of its ongoing 30th Anniversary celebrations, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis last week reached out to two rural institutions in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis that needed to secure their compounds.

At the Edgar T. Morris Primary School in Tabernacle on St. Kitts, the bank provided several rolls of fencing wire for assistance with the rebuilding of its perimeter fencing, while at the Butlers Health Centre on Nevis, the bank provided three gates to help secure an already built perimeter wall, and provided brackets for, and mounted, a TV stand.

“We at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis are presently celebrating our 30th anniversary, and as a part of our community outreach programme, we positively responded to the request of the Edgar T. Morris Primary School for assistance with the rebuilding of its perimeter fencing,” said Bank’s Loans Management Unit Manager, Mr David Fox. “But for me, this is very personal, as I am indeed honoured to be given the privilege of handing over the aggregates (several rolls of fencing wire) to you Ms. Katuel Browne – head teacher.

“As a product of this school’s predecessor; the Tabernacle All Age School, I was fortunate to be the beneficiary of a sound start in my early years, and I am extremely proud to be associated with the numerous prominent citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis who had their humble beginnings at this distinguished institution,” Mr Fox told the school’s head teacher.

In response Ms Browne observed that every year the staff and students prepare an Improvement Plan in which plans are made to improve the entire school. She said that as part of the Physical Dimension, they had embarked upon a project to beautify the school yard by rebuilding the entire fence, which had been destroyed by past students and other community members who constantly trespass on the school’s compound. “We are very grateful to the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for their quick response to assist us in this venture as part of the Development Bank 30th Anniversary Community Outreach,” said Ms Browne. “It will prevent stray animals and loiterers from destroying the school’s compound.

Secure at last — A gate installed at Butlers Health Centre. From right to left, Mrs Alexa Pemberton, Miss Ermine Jeffers, Ms Roslyn Jeffers (assistant health worker) and Ms Avelyn Browne, a recoveries officer with the Development Bank.

We solicited your assistance and are extremely grateful for your positive response in donating the materials necessary to undertake this project.” While the fence at the Edgar T. Morris had been destroyed, the fence at the Butlers Health Centre had been built three years ago, but there were no gates. According to the Development Bank’s branch manager for Nevis, Mrs Alexa Pemberton, as part of the community outreach the bank staff was going to paint the health centre, but they were informed that the gates were of a higher priority. “They had done the fencing but no gates were done yet and they had been waiting for sometimes for the gates,” observed Mrs Pemberton. “We felt that that was a very good way of helping, especially the older folks who use the health centre more than everything else because we do have customers coming from Butlers and they would have helped to build Development Bank.”

The bank provided one main gate and two smaller ones which have already been installed. Community Nurse Manager, Miss Ermine Jeffers, expressed the institution’s gratitude to the Development Bank and observed that when they now leave the compound, they would be able to close the gates, thus preventing stray animals or even persons with bad motives from damaging the compound. “A good citizen had donated a television set to us, but for a long time it used to sit on the floor,” said Miss Jeffers. “The Development Bank answered to our call and provided the required steel brackets and mounted them on the wall.

With the TV on the wall, we are now able to show health programmes to both our clients and staff members.” Established by an Act of Parliament NO. 1 of 1981, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis is wholly owned by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. It is celebrating its 30th Anniversary under the theme, ’30 years of Success: Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis promoting total empowerment through economic, social and national development’.