Statement: On the Passing of Hon. Sir K. Dwight Venner, former Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) by PM of St. Kitts and Nevis Hon Timothy Harris

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the late Honourable Sir K. Dwight Venner’s wife, Lady Lynda Arnolde Winville Venner, and their children, as well as his brothers, friends and former bank staff and colleagues.

The Government and people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis join with them to mourn the profound loss of the trained Economist, who was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but made his mark on the whole Caribbean and indeed the world.

Sir K. Dwight Venner rendered distinguished service to the sub-region through his professional success as Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank from December 1989 to November 2015 and his extensive writing and publications on many topics in areas such as Central Banking, Economic Development, International Economic Relations, Political Economy and Public Finance.

Sir Venner succeeded Sir Cecil Jacobs as the second Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, taking on the mantle of leadership for the next 26 years, a period that saw significant growth and expansion in its operations and in the economy of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Along his remarkable career path, Sir Venner skillfully steered the organization, demonstrating financial prudence and acumen, as well as a high-level understanding of international and monetary economics.

Moreover, Sir Venner’s excellent leadership skills coupled with his affability served to inspire and motivate his staff and colleagues, and commanded the respect and friendship of Heads of Government, the ECCB Monetary Council membership, bankers and financial industry leaders around the Caribbean and the globe. Sir Venner made many enduring friendships, too, in the realm of sports. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Sir Venner savoured the game of cricket. His hobbies also included racquetball, netball, hiking and jogging.

A strong proponent of education, sustainable development and the transformation of the ECCU economies, Sir Venner’s contributions impacted a number of esteemed regional institutions such as the University of the West Indies (UWI), where he served as a Junior Research Fellow at the Institute of Social and Economic Research and then as a Lecturer of Economics from 1974 to 1981. The Hon. Sir Dwight Venner was named a Distinguished Graduate of the University of the West Indies on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary in July 1998. Then in October 2003, the University of the West Indies awarded him with an honorary degree, the Doctor of Laws.

Sir Venner will be deeply missed, and I take this opportunity to salute him for his indelible service to the regional community in which he lived and worked to advance the lives and future generations of its people.