Sir Cuthbert leaves office after seventeen years of service

ZIZ News…Jan 3, 2013 — The second Governor General of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian KCMG, MD, is now enjoying his retirement after leaving the highest office of the land on January 1, 2013.

A wide cross section of the society witnessed the ceremony held at Government House, his office for nearly two decades, as he gave his response to the fitting words from the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas who praised him for his sterling service to the Federation for seventeen years.

The outgoing Governor General told the invited guests, “Time at last has crowned my long endeavour of 17 years to the federation of St. Christopher and Nevis, and to my fellowmen. And now, this is the moment with tenderness I bid you farewell as your Governor General.

Sir Cuthbert, a Medical Doctor by training and profession, assumed the high office on 1st January, 1996, becoming only the second Governor General of an independent St. Kitts and Nevis. His appointment came shortly after the change of government in 1995, when the Labour Party, led by Dr. Denzil Douglas, came to power in a landslide victory at the polls, primarily against the then incumbent People’s Action Movement PAM, which held government in a coalition with the Nevis Reformation Party, NRP.

A Guard of Honour comprised of the Defense Force and the Defense Force Band was drawn up outside the front of Government House as the Sir Cuthbert left his Springfield Office for the last time.

Sir Cuthbert is succeeded by Sir Edmund Lawrence KCMG, who took the oath of office during a ceremony at Government House the following day, Wednesday January 2, 2013. Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence, KCMG, OBE, CSM, JP, became the Federation’s third Governor General.

Sir Edmund was administered the Oath of Office by Resident Puisne Judge, His Lordship Mr. Justice Errol Thomas at Government House.

Born in St Kitts and Nevis, Sir Edmund Lawrence, an Economist by training, was educated in his native land and England. Sir Edmund established the St Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB) in 1970, a major milestone in a career in the banking and financial services sector that has exceeded forty years. Under his leadership SKNANB’s assets have increased from less than $200,000 in 1971 to over $2 billion in 2012.

Sir Edmund served as a consultant for the establishment of the indigenous Banks in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines and the National Bank of Anguilla and its subsidiaries. He has provided independent consultancy services in banking and finance to the Caribbean Development Bank as well as to the Governments of Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis.