Honouring Seniors On Nevis: Hon Eric Evelyn Applauds Development Bank

CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS, November 2, 2020 (DBSKN) — Minister of Social Development in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the Hon Eric Evelyn, is thanking the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for partnering with his ministry in honouring senior citizens on Nevis during the month of October.

“I just want to say how pleased we are that the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to be a wonderful and fantastic corporate citizen,” said the Hon Evelyn. “Of course my ministry has received numerous sponsorships from the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, and I am now delighted that they have come on board to sponsor us at the Senior Citizens Division.”

The Hon Evelyn, who is also the Federal Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, made the remarks on Thursday October 29 at an Award Ceremony and Luncheon held at the Jessup’s Community Centre that was organised by the Senior Citizens Division in the Department of Social Services in his ministry.

Five seniors, one each from the five parishes in Nevis, and two special honourees were awarded at the colourful ceremony which was chaired by the Deputy Director of Social Services, and person in charge of the Senior Citizens Division, Ms Joyce Moven.

The seniors awarded were Ms Bernadette Lewis from St. Paul’s, Ms Constantia David of St. Thomas, Mrs Violet Perkins of St. James, Mr Reuben Williams of St. George, and Mr Carlton Pinney of St John’s. The two special honourees were both from St. James, Mrs Essie Delashley from Butler’s and Mrs Janet Herbert from Mt. Lilly.

“Of course we had this activity today to honour five of our seniors, one from each parish, and the two special awardees, and we are happy that the gift baskets that they received were compliments of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said the Hon Evelyn.

The Honourable Minister added: “I want to say a very special thank you to the hardworking staff here in Nevis especially the manager Ms Pemberton and her entire team for the fantastic work they are doing, and I trust and hope that more corporate institutions can pattern what they do. Thank you so very much from us at Social Services.”

Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis’ branch manager for Nevis, Ms Hyacinth Pemberton who was present, said the Board of Directors and Management of the Bank are satisfied that the staff at the Department of Social Services, and in particular the Senior Citizens Division, always go beyond the call of duty to ensure that seniors on Nevis lead a respectable life.

“Senior citizens in Nevis receive the best care possible as staff members at the Senior Citizens Division treat them just the way they would treat their own relatives,” observed Ms Pemberton. “As Minister Eric Evelyn would have said, even during the lockdown period, workers at the Senior Citizens Division were on the road ensuring the seniors were comfortable wherever they were. We at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis salute them for their dedicated service to our senior citizens.”

Deputy Director of Social Services, and person in charge of the Senior Citizens Division, Ms Joyce Moven, also took time to thank Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for the continued support the division has received from the financial institution. Through the Bank’ sponsorship they were able to procure all the seven plaques for the awardees and gift baskets.

“The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis has continued to contribute to us every year,” said Ms Moven. “They are our platinum sponsor for our month of activities and we at the Department of Social Services, Senior Citizens Division specifically, want to say thank you very much for the Development Bank and its continued contribution to the development of our communities.”

According to Ms Moven other corporate entities that contributed towards activities to mark the Month of the Elderly on Nevis included the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union, St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank, the First Federal (formerly FND) Cooperative Credit Union, and the newly commissioned Oualie Funeral Home, among others.

Sponsorship cheque from the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis was handed over on Tuesday October 27 by Nevis office branch Manager Ms Hyacinth Pemberton, and Teller Keivern Huggins. It was received by Junior Clerk at the Senior Citizens Division Ms Jameika Morton who pointed out that a number of activities were curtailed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our first activity was church service on Sunday October 18,” said Ms Morton. “Normally all the seniors would come together and go to one church, but because of the pandemic we had to go to five different churches. The seniors in St. Paul’s went the Bath New Testament Church, in St. John’s they went to Cox Church of God, in St. George’s they went to the St. George’s Anglican Church, in St. James they went to the Combermere Methodist Church, and in St. Thomas they went to the Faith in Christ Church in Barnes Ghaut.”