Development Bank supports Camp Ezekiel

Development Bank’s Business Support Officer Mrs Vernitha Maynard (right) presents sponsorship cheque to Camp Ezekiel’s Secretary Ms Esmie Clarke.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (March 26, 2013) — The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis has once again partnered with the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in hosting Camp Ezekiel, an Easter camp for youths between ages 2 to 24, by making a donation towards the hosting of a banquet for the camp participants.

According to the Camp Organiser, Mrs Malvis James, the camp takes place on the Easter Weekend (March 28 – April 2, 2013) at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, while the banquet will be held at the Marriott Resort.

“Its (camp) aim is to empower the boys and girls in our community and the rural areas by providing them with vocational training and moral upbringing so that they can earn their livelihood independently and help create an island free from violence,” observed Mrs James.

Presenting the cheque donation was Development Bank’s Business Support Officer, Mrs Vernitha Maynard, who said that by partnering with the Mount Carmel Baptist Church to host Camp Ezekiel, the bank is laying a foundation that will prop the Federation’s future social and economic growth.

“Established by an Act of Parliament in 1981, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis which is wholly owned by the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, has been promoting total empowerment through economic, social and national development,” noted Mrs Maynard.

“We are pleased to partner with Mount Carmel Baptist Church because today’s participants in Camp Ezekiel will be our clients tomorrow. The Development Bank is of the opinion that the church is playing a critical role in preparing these young nationals to face the future confidently, meaning that when they come to us as clients, they will have learnt something of value.”

Receiving the cheque from Mrs Maynard was Camp Ezekiel’s Secretary Ms Esmie Clarke, who while thanking the Development Bank for its kind donation, stated that from experiences of the past which show that the children gain from activities at the camp, this year will have different activities and that they have a line-up of presenters from the various walks of life.

“We will have people come in to talk to the young ones on good moral standards and evils of gang violence, and then we will go for a hike at Phillip’s Level,” observed Ms Clarke. “We were planning to go Nevis but we changed our minds, we have to discover all historical sites in St. Kitts first then we can move on to Nevis, and then on the Saturday March 30th we will be going to the Marriott for our annual banquet.”