Development Bank to showcase clients at business fairs to mark its 33rd anniversary
Basseterre, St. Kitts– The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, which was created by an Act of Parliament in May 1981, is celebrating the 33rdanniversary of fruitful service to all facets of life in the Federation with business fairs in Basseterre and Charlestown, to showcase its clients.
“The celebration is being held under the theme ‘Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis: Promoting Total Empowerment through Economic, Social and National Development’,” said the Bank’s Manager for Human Resources, Marketing, and Product Development, Ms Danienne Brin.
“The Development Bank has been a key player in the economic growth of the Federation, and high on the agenda will be business fairs that will be held on Friday the 30th of May from 10 am to 6 pm in the Independence Square Basseterre, and at the D.R. Walwyn Square Charlestown.”
According to Ms Brin, the Development Bank is aiming at exposing its business clients to the general public by giving them a platform where they could showcase their business talents and the contribution they make towards the economic growth of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and what they have to offer.
Good news out of the Development Bank is that the fairs in Basseterre and Charlestown will not be restricted to its business clients only, as an open invitation has been extended to non-clients who would want to take the advantage offered by the bank to showcase their products as well.
Applications forms for participation are available at the head office in Basseterre from Ms Brin or the Marketing Support Officer, Mrs Vernitha Maynard, while those in Nevis could get the forms at the branch office from the Branch Manager, Ms Hyacinth Pemberton.
Deadline for the applications has been extended to Friday May 23, and according to Ms Brin, bank clients will take part in the one-day fair at the bank’s expense, while non-clients will be required to pay a token to cater for the rent of the booths, tents, chairs and tables.
“We have extended invitations to the Customs Department so they can come and let our business clients and the general public know the ways in which one can clear goods and products from them,” observed Ms Brin.
“Also invited is the Social Security Board for them to let clients know how important it is to take social security contributions from their employees and also to make social security contributions for their employees. We extended an invitation to Inland Revenue for them to do a presentation about taxes, exemptions etc.”
From the private sector, telecommunication companies LIME and Digicel have also been invited for them to get an opportunity to let people know what packages they have to offer and how clients can go about getting their phone and their cell phone ready for when they have persons calling them on demand so that one could be ready to serve their customers in a timely manner.
A well-known DJ will be on hand to entertain the visitors at the fairs who, according to Ms Brin, will win attractive prizes when they answer correctly questions posed to them in matters relating to the history of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis. Small tokens of appreciation will be distributed to all the visitors.
Assisting with the hosting of the business fair especially in St. Kitts is Ms Nadia Francis, a second year Business Administration (with a concentration in Management) student at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Campus, who is doing her internship at the Development Bank.
“Ms Francis would be attached to the Human Resource and Marketing Department for the first week that she is with Development Bank,” explained Ms Danienne Brin. “She would specifically assist with our business fair and then she would be attached to Accounts and Finance, and Business Support for the duration of her stint with Development Bank.”
Ms Francis, who will be at the bank up to the end of August, said that she specifically requested that she does her internship with the Development Bank of St. Kitts of and Nevis because she obtained her student loan from the bank and is keen to find out how the bank operates.
Other activities to mark the Development Bank’s 33rd anniversary include a health walk to the South Eastern Peninsula on Saturday May 24, open to staff members, their relatives and friends, and which will culminate with a healthy breakfast. The following Saturday (May 31) the bank’s staff will have a fun day at Frigate Bay.
“Everybody knows working is not easy,” commented Ms Brin. “We want to show appreciation to our staff so they could enjoy the company of each other even though we are with each other eight hours of the day while at work. At this fun day we can sit back, we can relax, we can let loose and enjoy each other’s company.”