By B Roach
It was the semblance of a ‘gala’ affair, an awards ceremony attended by well over 300 persons, described by the bank’s chairman, Kenneth Allen, the high point of 25th Anniversary celebrations, in his welcome remarks.
Following the proceedings being called to order by Master of Ceremonies, S.A. Maloney, who introduced prayers by Rev. Joan Delsol Meade, opening remarks by the MC, Mr. Allen gave opening remarks. These were preceded by the song “Oh Montserrat”, written by the Queen’s Counsel Attorney, long before the two girls, Tiffanie Skerritt and Nadia Browne who creditably performed the song, were born.
He welcomed a sizeable, more than appreciative audience, of shareholders, schoolchildren, dignitaries including H E Governor Davis, his wife Sujue and others.
He said to all, “Those of you who are shareholders this is your day because after dark and difficult years you have not only come of age but you have matured, those of you who are not shareholders welcome even more because I’m certain that you’ll not let the moment pass as soon as this function is over you do whatever you can to become shareholders,” telling what he said were the words of the great Mahatma Gandi: ‘first they ignore you then they laugh at you, then they join you, then you win,’”.
“join with us and we will all win, he said.” As he ended his brief welcome: “Join us and celebrate with us as much as you can but also think that you have. You are celebrating the 25th anniversary of an institution which to my mind within ten years will be one of the greatest success stories of the eastern Caribbean, enjoy yourself, thank you.”
The program listed Premier Reuben Meade next for brief remarks, but he was less than brief. He opened by remembering the founders, “the originators of the concept” emphasising: “We would not have been standing here this evening had it not been for the originators of the concept to start a local bank in Montserrat the ‘Bank of Montserrat’. I wish therefore to commend Mr. Hensey Fenton and that group of stalwarts, Montserratians, all who resided in the New England States for starting this bank 25 years ago,” adding, “and I insist on mentioning that at every opportunity because if we did not have that start we would not have had this institution celebrating 25 years.”
He gave a brief rundown of the time he became, “the young unfortunate Chief Minister” when the bank faltered and fell under the control of the East Caribbean Currency Bank (ECCB). He said he would not wish to see the bank in that state again. “I don’t want to ever see it happen in Montserrat,” explaining, “as a consequence of that government has moved from 0% shares in 1991 to owning over 70% of the shareholding of Bank of Montserrat.”
The premier then announced, “when a government owns so many shares in a bank it’s not good, we’re therefore seeking to move form that 70% down to no more that 20%,” showing government’s intention to dispose of their control on the bank.
He soon boasted the bank’s recovery and its current standing in the ECCU and rising.
The presentation of Awards and Bursaries to children of all the schools and the Community College on Montserrat followed, continuing with special awards to past chairman DRV ‘Frank’ Edwards and past director John Allen currently Corporate Secretary. Members of staff ranging from 23 years to five years received Certificate of Awards. So too, directors, remembered from 20 years to three years, leaving out those who would have been first directors of the bank, before it was restructured.
The children awards fell under several categories beginning with the winners of the Composition Competition winners. Top Academic Pertformers, Most Industrious student, Most Outstanding student, Top Athlete at the MSS; at the MCC, student with the most Academic potential in the Natural Science; these all received awards.
School children Bursaries
COMPOSITION COMPETITION WINNERS:-
1st. prize: Rhonnieka Sweeney
2nd. prize: Amari Jeffers
3rd. prize: Shekanah Irish
OTHER AWARDEES
• FROM BRADES PRIMARY SCHOOL
ü Top Three Academic Performers
- Trevor Howe Jr. – Grade 3
- Dominque Bess – Grade 4
- Katrice Fenton – Grade 6
- Student with most Athletic potential – Deshawn Wilkins
- Most improved student – Everton Leonard
• FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY ACADEMY
- Shavell West: Most Industrious student
- Tiffany Weekes : Most outstanding student
• FROM LOOKOUT PRIMARY SCHOOL
ü Top Academic Performers:-
- Nikiesha Scotland
- Rhonill Lewis
- Student with the most Athletic Potential – Japhet Teixiere
- Most improved student – Ferviany Guerrero Garcia
• FROM ST. AUGUSTINE PRIMARY SCHOOL
- Top Academic Performers
- Khyra West
- Connise Silcott
- Student with Most Athletic Potential : Wejahna Weekes
- Most improved Student : Yanick Henry
• FROM MONTSERRAT SECONDARY SCHOOL
- Top Student Form 1 – Doran cassell
- Top Student Form 2 – Jessica Tolan
- Top Student From 3 – Isis Harvey
- Top Student Form 4 – Checkwube Okereke
- Top Student Form 5 – Nadia Browne
- Top Athlete – Mikila Gittens
• FROM MONTSERRAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
- Top Academic Performer: Lenika Sutton
- Most improved student: Mario Lyn
Student with the most academic potential in the natural sciences: Tiffanie Skerritt.
See more photos on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151501379655852.1073741850.203080105851&type=1&l=9cd5252d5d
