Ex-CDB head Sir Neville Nicholls dies

Retired attorney and former head of the Caribbean Development Bank Sir Neville Nicholls died earlier in July. He was hailed as an intellectual giant and a formidable force in shaping economic development across the Caribbean region.

In a statement on July 12, the Caribbean Development Bank said he was not only a visionary leader within the bank but also a formidable force in shaping economic development across the Caribbean region.

It said Nicholls served as the third CDB president from 1988-2001, having joined the bank on March 1, 1971.

“He was a Barbadian-national attorney-at-law with a degree in economics. He progressed through the department to general counsel, and to vice president of the bank in October 1975. In May 1988, he was elected president, the first of three terms until his retirement in 2001.

“Under his stewardship, the bank made significant strides in addressing critical development challenges, forging partnerships and programmes that have left a lasting impact on our community's economic landscapes. His adept leadership was marked by a keen understanding of the intricate balance required to drive sustainable growth while addressing social imperatives.”

The CDB said Nicholls was deeply committed to the mission of reducing poverty and enhancing lives in the Caribbean through proactive and innovative financial solutions.

Barbadian prime minister Mia Mottley, in a statement on July 17, said Nicholls was a Barbadian who served Barbados in many spheres for a lifetime.

“Once again, Barbados and the wider Caribbean region have lost a genuine statesman who understood the true meaning and purpose of regional integration and the benefits that would accrue to our people if we embraced it with all our energies. His devotion to country never dampened his passion for the development of regional institutions that could unite the region, its people and its resources."

She said before he joined the CDB, his training in law, economics and diplomacy was deployed by the government of Barbados as part of the effort that led the very creation of the bank itself.

“Always the gentleman, Sir Neville demonstrated by the way he served others that high office and respect for the lowly are not mutually exclusive. How else can one explain how he served in so many capacities, including as chief parliamentary counsel in the attorney general’s office, the judicial and legal services commission, the public services commission and the UWI Cave Hill Campus Council, and ended his working life with never a blemish on his record.”

Mottley thanked Nicholls for a lifetime of valuable service to country and region and extended sincere condolences to his loved ones.

UWI, in a statement on Wednesday, said Nicholls was an intellectual giant and a quintessential Caribbean man.

“In all of his endeavours, the hallmark of excellence and doing what was right for the people who would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the decisions were paramount.

“The UWI community extends its deepest condolences to Sir Neville's sons and other family members. We recognise the sacrifices they made in sharing Sir Neville with us, and we are grateful for his stellar service to our country and the region.”

UWI vice-chancellor Prof Sir Hilary Beckles said Nicholls was a great UWI man, even though he was not an alumnus of the regional university.

“His advice to me as principal of the Cave Hill Campus when he chaired the campus council was invaluable and deeply appreciated."

Pro vice-chancellor and principal of the Cave Hill Campus Prof R Clive Landis added, "The campus community mourns the passing of a giant in the Cave Hill pantheon. Sir Neville's tenure as campus council chair marked a period of remarkable growth in the physical plant of the campus, its academic programming and student enrolment. I extend deepest condolences to Sir Neville's family and friends on behalf of a grateful campus."

Sir Neville Vernon Nicholls’ funeral will be held on Friday at the St George Parish Church, Barbados, at 10 am.

People are invited to join the family via live stream at http://lesmithfuneralhome.live/Neville Nicholls.