Basseterre, St. Kitts – The 50th anniversary celebration of the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trading and Development Company Limited (TDC) officially began on Sunday 5th February 2023, with a Thanksgiving Service, at the Antioch Baptist Church.
The grand occasion marking the significant milestone featured presentations in song, dance, and a sermon from staff members across the diversified Group.
In his address to mark the golden anniversary, Chairman Earle Kelly gave the impressive details of the company’s start up and growth and paid tribute to the promoters Warren Tyson, Michael King, Jacques Cramer, and Mary Moore, who were joined by Dr. Arthur Lake and Mr. Samuel Hunkins to be the first directors.
The Chairman also highlighted the company’s enormous social contribution principally in education with the Warren C Tyson Memorial Scholarship Fund, which began in 1981, and has contributed to the education of over 250 students in the Federation. He noted with pride that one the most outstanding Warren Tyson Scholars, is the current Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew.
The Company also provides scholarships for university study by non-employees through the Michael King Scholarship Grant. Internally, the Michael King Advanced Scholarship Fund has funded education for many members of its staff up to Master’s degrees as well as professional designations such as C.P.A, for Accountants, and C.I.A. for Auditors.
In Sports, the company has been the principal and named sponsor of the TDC Inter-School Track and Field Championships for forty five (45) years, and the TDC Runako Morton Primary School Cricket Tournament for twenty seventy (27) years.
Chairman Kelly closed his remarks with the announcement that there will be a calendar of yearlong activities, which will be held under the theme: “Your Neighbour. Your Partner. Your Future.”
Picture – TDC Group Staff and Directors pose a 50th Anniversary photo following the Thanksgiving Service
About the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trading and Development Company Limited (TDC)
Established in 1973, TDC was the first trading company in the Federation to go public. All trading businesses before that were private and family owned.
Despite substantial skepticism, the promoters of TDC raised the necessary public capital and with strong customer support met the profits and dividend targets to get the company off to a strong start, from which it has not looked back.
The number of shareholders has grown to 2,334, with Shareholders Equity of EC$188 million and Assets of EC$450 million. The company has paid over EC$70 million in dividends to its shareholders, where the value of its shares has grown attractively over the years.
TDC is also a development company. It was formed with the business philosophy of investing in ventures which contribute to the growth of the economy and expansion of the local market. The company has branched out into businesses in both St. Kitts and Nevis across the spectrum of the economy, including real estate, construction, tourism, manufacturing, airline services, insurance, and finance. It has also participated in joint ventures locally and abroad and has expanded into the islands of Anguilla, Dominica, and the British Virgin Islands.
As the Federation observes Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the TDC Home and Building Depots continue to play its part in helping to raise consciousness of the disease.
Through its Pinktober campaign, the retail outlets are giving customers the opportunity to get deep discounts on all pink tagged products in store, and access to free breast screening, every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., by a team of trained and certified health professionals.
Pink displays with ribbons and bows can be found in the power aisles, the staff is dressed in pink, and the St. Kitts store’ façade also lit in pink, to remind patrons to ‘think pink’ in support of the National effort and as a show of solidarity.
Pinktober forms part of the companies’ annual cause related outreach programmes to advocate, celebrate, and educate the public about the realities of breast cancer.
The TDC Group of Companies has once again given its corporate backing to the St. Kitts and Nevis Alzhemier’s Association, as it celebrates Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, in September.
The company ‘repainted’ its Home and Building Depot on the Frigate Bay Road in St. Kitts, in purple, the organisation’s signature colour, to make a strong statement in support of those persons who are affected by the progressive neurologic disorder.
Additionally, in honour of World Alzheimer’s Day, which is celebrated annually on 21st September, staff across all departments donned their purple uniforms in solidarity with the local organization to further increase public understanding of the disease.
In recent years, assistance has also come in the form of services through the donation of equipment and materials to conduct training, membership development activities, and community outreach programmes.
Picture – TDC Staff pose in their purple uniform in support of World Alzheimer’s Day
