- WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
Outgoing president of the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS)Karl Wright and wife Carmen seem intrigued at the performance by a member of the Wolmer's Dance Troupe.Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
AS ONE era ends, so another begins. Karl Wright, for so long the man whose face has become synonymous with Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), was saluted by friends and colleagues as he gracefully leaves the post. The Devonshire restaurant at Devon House was packed with well-wishers who came to say thanks, well done and good luck.
Guests were treated to a video presentation of Mr. Wright, produced by the excellent Susan Symes. Mr. Wright was presented with an artistic sketch of himself done by VMBS employee Wayne Smith. Dancers from the Wolmer's Dance Troupe acrobatically bestowed a floral tribute on him and wife Carmen. Armed with his usual wit and scholastic vocabulary, Mr. Wright slid over to the lectern and looked back on his time at VMBS.
HIS INNINGS
"I am delighted that the Society has taken note of my innings," he quipped. He joked that he had forgotten some things of the past (getting older can be a bother) but he will always remember VMBS' rasion d'etre to empower the people. He openly hoped that VMBS would continue to differentiate itself from the rest and then poetically declared, "I implore you all to remember the barbarians are always at the gate," to cheers from the audience.
Like trying to replace a legendary coach to fill this post would take some doing; any old executive just would not suffice. Step forward, Richard Powell, appropriately anointed 'Richard the Lionheart' by his predecessor. The man who has made his own mark in corporate Jamaica, stands ready to assume the throne. He is well aware of VMBS' significance to national development and declared his readiness to continue that.
So with that, Wright symbolically and literally passed the baton to Powell to carry on the race.
