Vance Winkworth Amory (born 22 May 1949) [1] was the Premier (Prime Minister) of Nevis from 2 June 1992 to 11 July 2006.[2] He founded and lead the Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM), now chaired by Stedmond Tross.[3] He was a West Indies cricketer who played for the Combined Islands and the Leeward Islands.[4] Prime Minister Amory also served as the Minister of Sports in the Nevis Island Administration.[4] The main airport in Nevis, The Vance W. Amory International Airport, bears his name.
Prime Minister Amory was born in Rawlins Village.[1] He received his elementary, primary and secondary school education in Nevis.[1] He has been an active member of a local church in Nevis since childhood.[1]
Amory was known for his fondness for the game of cricket.[1] He suffered injuries, including a broken nose; that caused him to be lifted off the cricket field.[1]
Amory was known to excel academically, obtaining passes in 5 out of available 7 GCE ‘O’ level subjects at Charlestown Secondary School.[1] He subsequently achieved his ‘A' grade levels in St. Kitts, went on to University of the West Indies at Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree.[1] Then he returned home to continue teaching students at Charlestown Secondary School in 1973.[1]
Transferred to Gingerland Secondary School, Vance Amory, 1974-1977 and for 6 months during that period, took on the additional responsibility as acting headmaster while fulfilling his role as teacher, without additional compensation.[1]
At age 28 he became the youngest headmaster of Charlestown Secondary School.[1] He took an institution that was lagging seriously behind and almost single-handedly restored acceptable grades and credibility.[1] The transition from GCE ‘O' levels to CXC and the newly introduced sports programs were among some of the challenges that he overcame, despite serious opposition from others.[1] He assisted greatly with the education improvement of thousands during his days as teacher and principal.[1]
Mr. Amory then, between 1981 and 1983, had a short stint in banking as manager of the St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla National Bank, during which time he aided many individuals in obtaining well needed financing.[1] That Bank was relatively new on Nevis and had its early difficulties.[1] Nevis residents were very cautious in doing business with the institution and Amory set his mind to change this.[1] The bank thereafter experienced healthy financial growth.[1] He was also instrumental in overseeing the purchase of the land on which National Bank sits today.[1]
Deciding to move forward in 1983, Amory applied for and successfully received a position in the finance department of the Nevis Island Government.[1] He was then promoted to Permanent Secretary in Finance, under the premiership of Dr. Simeon Daniel.[1]
It was from that position that Mr. Amory learned the ins and outs of governance.[1] He decided to sacrifice himself for the betterment of Nevis and took study leave in September 1986 to further his education at University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix campus.[1] He resigned his position in December of that year and reported that he wanted to dedicate himself for the betterment of Nevis.[1]
During this time he organized a political party, the Concerned Citizens Movement.[1] Within 5 years, Nevis in 1992 he took off for new destinations and altitudes with determination to serve as Premier.[1]
His transformation of the face of Nevis can be seen in many facets. He played a substantial rolde in securing the funding for the construction of the airport.[1] There were numerous regulatory obstacles strewn in path of the airport development and numerous delays by the Basseterre Government (in Saint Kitts) in extending a loan guarantee.[1] His commitment to the successful completion of the project is one reason that the airport bears his name.[1]
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