AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY COMES TO AN END

An era has ended at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) with the retirement of long-serving Governor, Sir Kenneth Dwight Vincent Venner, in December 2015. Sir Dwight, a 2012 recipient of the Saint Lucia Cross, had served the St. Kitts and Nevis-based institution in that capacity since 1989. Prior to his service at ECCB, Sir Dwight was Director of Finance and Planning in the Government of Saint Lucia from 1981 to 1989. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, Planning and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has praised Sir Dwight’s stewardship of the ECCB, noting the “deep concern and anxiety” the veteran administrator always had for ordinary citizens.

Said Dr. Anthony in a letter to Sir Dwight, “On behalf of the Government and people of Saint Lucia and on my personal behalf, I thank you for the years of selfless and dedicated service that you have given to the Central Bank and the people of our region. There can be no question that you have departed from the bank leaving behind an extraordinary legacy. Few, if any, could match your passion and commitment to our region. You gave us not just administrative leadership but also intellectual leadership. I have always been impressed by your fierce protection of the integrity and independence of the bank. You led with vision and integrity.

“You can, I believe, take justifiable pride and satisfaction in the fact that you helped this region to navigate through one of the most intractable financial crises ever to sweep our region. Your stern but focused leadership was an asset to all of us who have been entrusted with the leadership of our region. Your understanding of our environment and our unique circumstances, helped us to manage as well as we did, the turbulent economic conditions that we faced.”

Dr. Anthony added, “It is true that we may not have always agreed on monetary and fiscal policy but there is no occasion that I have found myself doubting the sincerity of the advice that you offered. I will always remember the deep concern and anxiety that you had for the welfare of the ordinary citizens of our region.” The Prime Minister concluded by wishing Sir Dwight well in his retirement. Dr. Anthony sits with the other Ministers of Finance of ECCB member governments on the Monetary Council, the bank’s highest decision-making authority, most recently having assumed the chair in 2013.