PM Douglas: "Sir Edmund and Lady Hulda Lawrence are the personification of propriety, dignity, accomplishment, and patriotism
Photo 1 – Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence walks to the podium following the introduction by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas
Photo 2 – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence; Lady Lawrence and Resident Judge His Lordship Mr. Errol Thomas
St. Kitts and Nevis’ new Governor General Sir Edmund Wickham and his wife Lady Hulda Lawrence are the personification of propriety, dignity, accomplishment, and patriotism.
"They are examplars of what we, as the people of St. Kitts & Nevis, should all be," said St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas during Wednesday’s Inauguration Ceremony as Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis at Government House.
Dr. Douglas told invited guests, among them Sir Edmund’s predecessor, Sir Cuthbert Sebastian; the Federal Cabinet, Deputy Governor General of Nevis, His Honour Mr. Eustace John and Mrs. John; the Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, the Hon. Curtis Martin; Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry and his Cabinet and former Governor, Sir Probyn and Lady Inniss that the assumption of Sir Edmund to the role of Governor-General of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis is "an important and positive development for us all today."
"At moments like this, I am particularly proud to be a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis. And at moments like this I am especially grateful to have been given the opportunity, by the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, to serve as Prime Minister of our Federation. Because being a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis and being Prime Minister has afforded me the opportunity, first, to know and work with Sir Edmund Lawrence; second, to recommend to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the support of the Leader of the Opposition, that he be named as her representative; and third, it has provided me with the opportunity to share with you this morning some insights into exactly who Sir Edmund Lawrence is, and why his assuming the role of Governor-General of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis is so important for us all at this time," said Prime Minister Douglas.
Photo 3 – Sir Edmund and Lady Hulda Lawrence with Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and his Federal Cabinet
He pointed out that his remarks "can be either extremely brief – that is, they can reduced to one clear and simple sentence, or, to truly do justice to the accomplishments and contributions of Sir Edmund, we would have to be here for considerably longer than this morning’s program allows. I will therefore attempt to find a middle ground."
"Before going to that middle ground however, I think that it would be helpful if I were to begin by sharing with you the one sentence synopsis that could very easily encapsulate all that I will proceed to say this morning. And that sentence would be that in all that he undertakes, and in the execution of any responsibility that he assumes, Sir Edmund Lawrence’s unwavering modus operandi is always – and without exception – the pursuit of excellence. And it is this fact, and this reality, that makes his assumption of the role of Governor-General of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis such an important and positive development for us all today. On behalf of the Government and people of our nation, therefore, Sir Edmund, we thank you for agreeing to assume this important responsibility," said Dr. Douglas.
He referred to Sir Edmund’s career as the flowering of St. Kitts and Nevis politically, socially, and economically, in the modern era.
"And this fact underscores the good fortune of our nation in having this particular individual assume the highest position in our land, today. Sir Edmund, whose hard work and diligence led to his becoming a trained economist, combined this training with his vision to establish the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank – the cornerstone of the social and economic development of our nation, and the clearest manifestation of our emergence as an independent people," said Prime Minister Douglas, who pointed out that Sir Edmund also established the National Bank Trust Company in St. Kitts and Nevis, and the National Caribbean Insurance Company, which has protected thousands of Kittitians and Nevisians from the ravages of natural and other misfortunes.
"He established National Investments Limited, National Investments Repurchase Limited and the St. Kitts and Nevis Mortgage and Investment Company Limited, all of which resulted in him establishing a reputation in the fields of investment and finance, throughout the Federation, that is second to none," said the Prime Minister, who added that the respect for the intellect and competence of Sir Edmund is in no way limited to St. Kitts and Nevis and its people, however.
"Indeed, when the National Commercial Bank of Dominica was being established, the advice and involvement of Sir Edmund was wisely sought and secured. When the National Commercial Bank of St. Vincent was being established, his professional guidance was key. When the National Bank of Anguilla was being established, Sir Edmund was asked both to be an on-site consultant during its development, as well as to serve as an in-house advisor during its operations. He was blessed with a keen intellect and unique skills and these, he has clearly used to the benefit of our nation and our region. He was key to the establishment of the National Investment Company of Anguilla, the Anguilla National Insurance Company and the Anguilla Mortgage Company. He was intimately involved in the establishment of the General Business Services Limited here in St. Kitts, and his expertise in the areas of Banking and Finance has been relied upon by the Caribbean Development Bank, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, and the Government of Montserrat," said Dr. Douglas.
The Prime Minister said one of the most important springboards to financial security is home ownership. And in most parts of the world, home-ownership remains the domain of the privileged few.
Photo 4 – Sir Edmund and Lady Hulda Lawrence with Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry and his Nevis Island Administration
"St. Kitts and Nevis, however, is different, with our massive and forward-looking affordable housing programs. Sir Edmund has always recognized the importance of affordable housing to the uplift of our people and our nation, and the record will show that he pioneered, established, and actually developed Low Cost Housing and Low Income Housing Schemes in St. Kitts. Indeed, he went even beyond this to develop a Secondary Mortgage Market between the Caribbean Development Bank and the National Bank Trust company of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla in order to provide mortgage finance for new housing projects and individual housing properties in St. Kitts and Nevis," said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said that in light of all that Sir Edmund has done, and in light of all that he has accomplished, it would be difficult to think of anyone who has a keener insight into the social and economic development of St. Kitts and Nevis and it would be equally difficult to think of anyone who has played a more intimate and integral role in bringing these advancements about. It would also be difficult to imagine anyone in the worlds of finance and investment with broader regional involvements as he, having served, as he has, as Director of the Caribbean Credit Card Corporation, the Republic Bank of Grenada, the East Caribbean Financial Holdings Limited. In addition, and significantly, the Sir Edmund was a founding member of the Standing Committee of Chief Executives of Indigenous Commercial Banks in Caricom, now the Caribbean Association of Indigenous Banks, and serves as Director of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union Bankers Association, Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Finance Company.
"As I tried to make clear from the beginning, Ladies and Gentlemen, the extent and magnitude of Sir Edmund’s accomplishments make it impossible for anyone to even remotely capture their depth and breadth here this morning. What you have gotten some inkling of, I am sure, however, is that Sir Edmund, a trained economist, has used his extraordinary talents in a constant quest for both personal improvement and national advancement and development. And on both fronts he has succeeded beyond even what I am certain that even he might have imagined when he was just a young man filled with hopes, dreams, and boundless talent," said Prime Minister Douglas.
Photo 5 – Guests at Government House witnessing the inauguration of Sir Edmund Lawrence as Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis
He noted that in addition to Sir Edmund’s impressive professional career he is a man of deep and abiding faith – as his fellow congregants in the Wesley Methodist Church, and the many Ministers who have served there will readily attest, having served as Sunday School Superintendent, as well as by serving on the Resources and Development Committee of Wesley Methodist. Indeed, as a young man, prior to going off to study, Sir Edmund also used his then-budding talents to develop and uplift those younger than he, when he served as an elementary school teacher.
"Perhaps most significantly, Sir Edmund is a devoted and outstanding father – and his children are highly accomplished, well-reared, and truly impressive son and daughters. Thank you, Sir Edmund and Lady Hulda, for these fine contributions that you have made to the national treasures of our nation," said Dr. Douglas.
"Sir Edmund and Lady Hulda are the personification of propriety, dignity, accomplishment, and patriotism. They are examplars of what we, as the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, should all be. And so it is with great pride, and with deepest appreciation, that I ask to address you this morning, Ladies and Gentlemen, Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence, Governor-General of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis," said Prime Minister Douglas.
Photos by Erasmus Williams