Vance Amory

Amory was born on 22 May 1949 in Rawlins Village.[4] He received his elementary, primary and secondary school education in Nevis.[4] He has been an active member of a local church in Nevis since childhood.[4]

Amory was known for his fondness for the game of cricket.[4] He was a West Indies cricketer who played for the Combined Islands and the Leeward Islands.[2] He suffered injuries, including a broken nose; that caused him to be lifted off the cricket field.[4]

Amory was known to excel academically, obtaining passes in 5 out of available 7 GCE 'O' level subjects at Charlestown Secondary School.[4] 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.[4] Then he returned home to continue teaching students at Charlestown Secondary School in 1973.[4]

Transferred to Gingerland Secondary School, 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.[4] At the age of 28, he became the youngest headmaster of Charlestown Secondary School.[4] He took an institution that was lagging seriously behind and almost single-handedly restored acceptable grades and credibility.[4] 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.[4] He assisted greatly with the education improvement of thousands during his days as teacher and principal.[4]

Between 1981 and 1983 Amory was manager of the St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla National Bank, during which time he aided many individuals in obtaining well needed financing.[4] That Bank was relatively new on Nevis and had its early difficulties.[4] Nevis residents were very cautious in doing business with the institution and Amory set his mind to change this.[4] The bank thereafter experienced healthy financial growth.[4] He was also instrumental in overseeing the purchase of the land on which National Bank sits today.[4]

In 1983, Amory applied for and successfully received a position in the finance department of the Nevis Island Government.[4] He was then promoted to Permanent Secretary in Finance, under the premiership of Dr. Simeon Daniel.[4] It was from that position that Amory learned the ins and outs of governance.[4] He took study leave in September 1986 to further his education at University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix campus.[4] He resigned his position in December of that year and reported that he wanted to dedicate himself for the betterment of Nevis.[4]

In 1987 he organised a political party, the Concerned Citizens Movement.[4] In 1992, he became Premier of Nevis and served until 2006.[4] His transformation of the face of Nevis can be seen in many facets. He played a substantial role in securing the funding for the construction of the airport.[4] 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.[4] His commitment to the successful completion of the project is one reason that the airport bears his name.[4] He served a second term from 2013 to 2017.