Development Bank to focus more on social development

Mr Elvis Newton, Chairman of Board of Directors, Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis, at the Church of God in Butlers

Charlestown Nevis (May 30, 2011) — Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr Elvis Newton, has called on churches in the country to join with the bank as it rolls out new products and initiatives to foster real social and community development.

“It is very important at this juncture in our nation’s history that we focus more on social development aspects because our young people require that shaping and that moulding,” said Mr Newton at the Church of God in Butlers, Nevis, on Sunday (May 29).

“The bank is in a good position to work with the church to bring about social transformation if we are going to make a dent in crime situation in this country. The church with the Development Bank, and our expertise, we can combine to ensure we bring meaningful social change.”

Mr Newton had led from St. Kitts, members of the board, management and staff to Nevis where they joined their counterparts from Nevis at a thanksgiving service at the Church of God in Butlers to mark the start of a month-long calendar of activities to observe the bank’s 30th anniversary.

Accompanying Mr Newton were deputy chairman of the board, Ms Rubie Taylor, board member Mr Levi Bradshaw, general manager Mr Lenworth Harris and all staff members who joined Nevis-based board member Dr Telbert Glasgow and Nevis branch office staff members led by manager Mrs Alexa Pemberton. They were welcomed at the church by Pastor Davidson Morton.

Also joining them for the service was retired Nevis-based director of the bank Mr Floyd Harris, and Deputy Premier Hon Hensley Daniel who represented the Nevis Island Administration. Hon Daniel also represented his wife Mrs Sonita Daniel, a Nevis-based director of the bank, but who was off island on official business.

Addressing the congregation, Mr Newton said that when people think of an institution like the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis, they should also think of institutions like the ZIZ Broadcasting, National Bank, Social Security and the cooperative movement in St. Kitts and Nevis, and especially in Nevis.

Board Members, Management and staff of the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis pose for a group picture after the church service. Joining them in the picture is Nevis’ Deputy Premier Hon Hensley Daniel and former director, Floyd Harris

All those institutions had a national intent that was geared to integral initial development, noted Mr Newton who is also the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health. “All of them would have been established before independence, during the period when there was sadness. It was when we were struggling for our self determination and empowerment as a people.”

He observed that in every facet of life on St. Kitts and Nevis, the Development Bank had made a very significant impact. According to information given to him by the General Manager (Mr Lenworth Harris), he reported that the bank had extended $75 million in student loans, observing that some of the people in the congregation would have benefitted from that investment in people’s development. He said he was a proud product of the Development Bank.

The bank had extended large sums in the building of homes, and that way empowered people in terms of home ownership. He observed that as he travelled to the church he saw a number of homes on Nevis that the bank would have contributed to their building. He added that when he looks around in both St. Kitts and Nevis, he saw large numbers of small and medium sized businesses that were funded through the bank.