After 37 years of continuous commitment, Kenn Banks has proceeded on pre-retirement leave from the Anguilla Public Service. Tuesday, October 31, was his last working day. He will be celebrating his 55th birthday later this month when his colleagues will be holding a big farewell party for him.

Mr. Kenn Banks

Mr. Banks joined the service on September 18, 1969, which was still being formally organised following the Anguilla Revolution. He began as a teacher at the then Valley Secondary School, his Alma Mater. He left there in 1975 for the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados, where he spent one year at the faculty of Natural Sciences and three years at the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad where he obtained his B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering. He worked on training attachments with the Engineering Firm of David Lashley & Partners for two years from 1979 to 1981 and later spent nine months in the United Kingdom attached to the Water Training Council.

Banks returned to Anguilla in March 1982 and was appointed Chief Engineer at the Public Works Department (now the Department of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries). He became Permanent Secretary in 1985. He served as Acting Deputy Governor periodically.

In addition to his heavy responsibilities in the Public Service, Mr. Banks has been able to serve in various areas of community life. He is President of the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society, President of the Anguilla Athletic Association, holds leading positions in the Anguilla National Trust, Scouts Association and the Methodist Church where he serves as a Local Preacher and Sunday School Teacher.

Asked how he would adjust having retired from the Public Service, Mr. Banks replied: “I keep on saying my job with Government does not define my life. My life is the sum of all the parts and that is only one part being taken away. I will still be a busy man.”

He said he enjoyed his a period of national service. “I think Anguilla has a good Public Service and one can enjoy working there. I think you have to credit the service for taking Anguilla from where it was to where it is now. Without a good Public Service Anguilla could not be where it is now. I am glad to have been a part of that.”

Mr. Larry Franklin

Bank’s successor is Larry Franklin, who has admirably headed the Government’s Information Technology Unit over the years. Asked how he looked forward to his new job, he looked down at Mr. Banks’ oversized shoes.

“They are extremely big shoes to fit,” Franklin chuckled.

“They are size 13s,” Banks admitted.

“I think it is an honour to replace someone like Mr. Banks,” Franklin went on. “As a Permanent Secretary, MICU, I know it is going to be a big challenge ahead in terms of accomplishing and sustaining the things that he has been working on over the many years.”

Mr. Franklin studied Computer Science and Mathematics at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies from 1986-1991. He later did Postgraduate studies in Computer Science at Bristol University in England where he obtained his Master’s degree.

He has been working in the Anguilla Public Service from 1985. He was appointed Director of the Information Technology Unit in 2000 and is now Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Public Utilities.

Mr. Franklin is succeeded at the IT Unit by Vaughn Hazel.

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