Premier welcomes Alexander Hamilton linkage

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (MAY 17, 2013) — Premier of Nevis Hon. Vance Amory welcomed a four-member group who was on Nevis and was involved in the awareness of Alexander Hamilton who was born in Nevis and later became the first Secretary in the United States Treasury.

Mr. Amory told the Department of Information that Founder of the American Museum of Finance in New York Mr. John Herzog and his wife Maria, accompanied by President of the New England Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society Mrs. Mariana Oller and her husband Tom were visiting Nevis and had planned to create greater awareness of the important link between Hamilton and his birth island.

(L-R) Founder of the American Museum of Finance in New York Mr. John Herzog and his wife Maria, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance Hon. Vance Amory, President of the New England Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society and her husband Tom

“We discussed this morning our shared heritage coming from the British Colonial past as we both did the United States with 13 colonies and Nevis and St. Kitts and the Caribbean countries as colonies of Britain.

“Now we are seeking to re-establish that link having a common connector Alexander Hamilton. Our visitors are here to see what Nevis has, to ensure that we make that connection and develop it to a point where people appreciate what Alexander Hamilton has done for the United States of America and to have our visitors as well appreciate where we came from and make that connection so that we can build that lasting relationship,” he said.

Mr. Amory noted that the NIA would capitalise on the linkage because it was an important one which could only redound to the benefit of Nevisians through visitors and investment.

In brief comments Mr. Herzog gave greater insight into the visit to Nevis and expressed his satisfaction with the island.

“My wife and I are very pleased to be here. We came because of Alexander Hamilton and then we have discovered this very beautiful and lovely island and we may be back. I certainly hope we shall be.

“We believe that the Hamilton Record justifies a closer examination and a better and more interesting relationship between the Alexander Hamilton Museum here and the Museum of American Finance in New York and the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society. We think that Hamilton is a very saleable product and we think that his background and his accomplishments will bring other people to Nevis and we hope to be helpful in that process,” he said.

Mrs. Oller also explained she was on Nevis to carry out the mandate of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society in the United States.

“I am here as a representative of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society. Our Society has a mission to raise awareness of Hamilton’s accomplishments and his incredible role in the founding of the United States of America. We believe that awareness should be raised not only in the United States, St. Kitts and Nevis as well and everywhere around the world.

“So our Society is trying very hard in the past year and a half to produce a number of events to raise that awareness and also to bring more interest around the world and in the United States to the birth place of Alexander Hamilton here in beautiful Nevis,” she said.

Mrs. Oller also thanked Premier Amory and the people of Nevis for hosting them and noted that she looked forward to returning very soon with other friends and persons interested not only in Alexander Hamilton but to also learn more about Nevis and St. Kitts.