ECCB: “Sir Dwight’s legacy lives on”

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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – The St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has described its former governor Sir K. Dwight Venner as a “visionary, a regionalist, and a public servant par excellence,” who “had a deep and abiding love for the people of the Caribbean.”

Mourning Sir  Dwight, the second and longest serving Governor of the ECCB, the sub-regional financial institution on behalf of the Chairman of the ECCB Monetary Council, Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, and all members of Council, Board of Directors, management and staff (past and present) and retirees, extended deepest condolences and gratitude to Lady Lynda, his dear wife; his children; his brother, John (our colleague); his relatives and many friends.

“May the God of all comfort, comfort them at this exceptionally difficult time,” the ECCB said in a statement.

“Sir Dwight’s passing comes less than eight weeks before the Monetary Council, in recognition of his immense contribution, had planned to honour him at a special ceremony at the ECCB Headquarters in St. Kitts and Nevis. At that time, one of the buildings was to be named in his honour,” the statement said.

The ECCB recalled that one of Sir Dwight’s many accomplishments was initiating and overseeing the construction and equipping of the current ECCB Headquarters.

Sir Dwight’s successor, Mr. Timothy Antoine has personally conveyed the ECCB’s grief and gratitude to Lady Lynda.

“Sir Dwight was a visionary, a regionalist, and a public servant par excellence. He had a deep and abiding love for the people of the Caribbean. He truly believed that we are our best selves and secure our best development outcomes when we come together and take collective action. He dedicated his life to our region, and his wife and family made enormous sacrifices to support his labour of love over many, many years. Those of us on whom the mantle now rests have a duty of care to continue his exceptional service,” he said in the ECCB release.

Sir Dwight, Mr. Antoine added: “had a dream for the development of our region and he regarded the ECCB as a veritable vehicle to pursue our common destiny as small states and territories.”

“I again express our appreciation for his colossal contribution to the development of our region. Our region owes him a huge debt of gratitude,” said Mr. Antoine, who noted that during Sir Dwight’s tenure as Governor, the ECCB grew in stature and service.

“He led many reforms. The banking and financial system expanded and remained stable throughout various financial crises. Above all, the EC dollar remained strong,” he said.

Sir Dwight wrote extensively on the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, development of the Caribbean and central banking and was the architect of affiliate institutions such as the Eastern Caribbean Stock Exchange, the most modern in the Caribbean, and the Eastern Caribbean

Home Mortgage Bank.

An avid sports fan especially cricket and football, Sir Dwight led and actively participated in sports at the ECCB.

Sir Dwight demitted office on 1 December 2015 after 26 years as Governor.

Following his retirement, he continued to serve as Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Stock Exchange and the Eastern Caribbean Home Mortgage Bank and was recently reappointed as the Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Stock Exchange and chaired a meeting of the Board earlier in the week of his demise.

“An illustrious Caribbean son has passed on but the legacy of Sir Dwight lives on,” said Mr. Antoine.

The ECCB moved from what was the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority (ECCA) which was also based in St. Kitts and serves as the central bank for Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,  Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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