Parliamentarians honour the legacy of the late H.E. Ambassador Vance Amory

By Devonne Cornelius

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The life and legacy of His Excellency Vance Winkworth Amory, former Premier of Nevis, was honoured at a special sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. 

Past and present members of the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Island Assembly paid tribute to H.E. Vance W. Amory, a former educator, banker and cricketer. Opening the tributes were Dr. the Right Excellent and Right Honourable Sir Kennedy A. Simmonds, who served as Prime Minister from 1983 to 1995. 

“My political connections with Vance Amory came at the advent of independence in 1983 when he served as Permanent Secretary of Finance to Premier Dr. Sir Simeon Daniel in the Nevis Island Administration. In that capacity, he was directly involved in the implementation of the financial arrangements between St. Kitts and Nevis as established in the constitution. 

I was able to appreciate, at close range, his high intellect, his close attention to detail and his total commitment to the welfare of the people of Nevis. However, it was in 1993 that I experienced the statesmanship of Vance Amory,” Dr. Simmonds said. 

H.E. Vance W. Amory, after leaving elective politics prior to the June 2020 General Elections, was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary in the office of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris.

“I rise with your leave Mr. President to pay tribute to a man whom I have long considered as the embodiment of a true national hero, and I look forward to the fulfillment of this in due course by the relevant committee. I speak of none other than our late Ambassador Vance W. Amory…

When Ambassador Amory breathed his last on Saturday, April 02, 2022, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis lost a stalwart, an astute politician and an elder statesman. On that day, I personally lost a friend, a principled and honest political partner in the Team Unity Government, and a fountain of wise counsel on whom I had come to rely for the past 10 years,” Prime Minister Harris said. 

Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement, founded and first led by Mr. Amory was among the parliamentarians paying tribute to his former colleague in the political arena. 

“Here you have a man who in so many ways excelled who in whatever he put his hand to, as we have heard, did it well. As a nation, we are shaped by what and who we remember, therefore, it matters today that our country remembers the life, courage, sacrifice and legacy of Vance Winkworth Amory. He devoted much of his adult life to serving his country, his people and the principles for which it stands. A nation as we know is not just a flag, an anthem and a court of arms, it is much more. It also embodies our beliefs, aspirations, principles and values. Throughout his career, and indeed until his very last breath, Vance Amory understood this and exemplified it. 

A lot has been said here today about the life and legacy of Vance and his place among the pantheon of our political heroes. Some may say it perhaps falls short of truly representing the man and what he stood for. The praise and tributes mentioned here today may eventually fade but what will never fade is the impact that he had on the people with whom he came into contact and the country that he loved and cherished so dearly,” Premier Brantley said. 

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Shawn Richards; former Prime Minister Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and former colleague and long-time friend Premier of Nevis from 2006 to 2013 Hon. Joseph Parry also spoke of the life and work of H.E. Vance W. Amory 

Other past and present parliamentarians who spoke at the special sitting in honour of former Premier Amory were Deputy Premier and Member of Parliament for Nevis 4 Hon. Alexis Jeffers; Member of Parliament for Nevis 3 Hon. Eric Evelyn; Member of Parliament for Nevis 1 Hon. Spencer Brand; Member of Parliament for Nevis 5 Hon. Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds; Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, nominated member in the Nevis Island Assembly; Nurse Jean Harris, former Member of Parliament for Nevis 4; and Mr. Livingston Herbert, former nominated member in the Nevis Island Assembly. 

The special sitting to mark the passing of H.E. Ambassador Vance Amory was presided over by President of the Nevis Island Assembly Hon. Farrel Smithen.