Development Bank’s contribution to cricket is overwhelming

Basseterre St. Kitts (September 11, 2012) — Chairman of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis ’13 and Under Cricket Competition’, Mr Vernon Springer, has thanked the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for its contribution to the development of cricket in the Federation.

From left: Mr Vernon Springer, Jacob Parles (Anguilla), Limar Pierce (Barbados), Joshua Grant (Montserrat), Kwame Challenger (St. Kitts), Mr David Fox (Development Bank), Jamie Cornelius (Nevis), Leic Charles (Dominica), Melissa Clarke (Nevis), and Hon Glenn Philip.

“Development Bank over the years has come on board to really assist us, but this year more than any other year, they have really stepped up to the plate,” said Mr Springer at the closing ceremony of the competition at Warner Park on August 29. “What you would have seen would have been bats, pads they have given to the kids.”

Mr Springer observed that the competition, which this year featured teams from Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis and St. Kitts, was a joint collaboration between the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the private sector.

“But we really want to single out the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, especially (its General Manager) Mr Lenworth Harris who himself was a former player for St. Kitts and who also played youth cricket for the Leeward Islands,” said Mr Springer. “It all goes well to see that the Development Bank’s contribution to cricket is overwhelming.”

The Development Bank through its Loans Management Unit Manager, Mr David Fox, had presented bats and pads to the Most Valuable Player from each participating island. However, Nevis got two presentations due to the fact that the team had the only female player, Melissa Clarke, who was considered a Most Valuable Player in her own right.

“The Development Bank has always been pleased to contribute to the development of our young cricketers,” said Mr Fox. “These days when finances are difficult to come by, we were quite pleased to be in a position to provide bats and pads, and these are pretty important gear that cricketers require in order to assist in their development.”

According to Mr Fox, the Board and Management of the Development Bank “are quite pleased to know that the players who stood out with their performances have been justly rewarded with good, top quality gear. These are very good bats and very good pads and therefore as time goes forward we can continue to see further development in these youngsters.”

Receiving the bats and pads from the Development Bank were Jacob Parles of Anguilla (43 runs and 4 wickets); Limar Pierce of Barbados (111 runs, 2 catches and 6 stumping); Leic Charles of Dominica (142 runs — highest score 107 not out); Joshua Grant of Montserrat (59 runs); Jamie Cornelius of Nevis (99 runs); and Kwame Challenger of St. Kitts (96 runs — highest score 56 — 4 wickets for 66 runs).

According to Mr Springer, the MVPs went back to their homes loaded with gifts including a laptop computer each compliments of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, that were presented by the Hon Glenn Philip, the Minister of Information, Technology, Sports and Youth.

“We had other folks who made it possible,” noted Mr Springer. “We had Harpers who gave dictionaries; we had the TDC Group of Companies who gave school bags, with all the school accessories, along with the laptops from the Government and the bats and pads compliments of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis.”