My colleagues and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. John Kenning, O.B.E. just five months following the passing his late wife Mrs. Elizabeth (Betty) Kelly Kenning O.B.E.

The Bahamas and in particular our financial industry is saddened by the passing of one of its banking pioneers. Mr. Kenning came to The Bahamas more than 50 years ago, married into one of the leading families of the country and elected to become one of us.

He will be best remembered for his career at Barclays Bank in the Bahamas where he spent more than 30 years of his working life and nurtured and mentored many future Bahamian banking leaders.  The business community particularly admired his prudent and disciplined approach to financial matters.

Over the years he developed a reputation for his
advocacy of academic excellence combined with practical working experience as the prescription for advancement of a career in banking which was wonderful encouragement for the many young Bahamians pursuing a career in an industry recently opened to them. 

Following his retirement from Barclays Mr. Kenning continued his involvement in financial matters as Chairman of the Bank of the Bahamas at a time when that unprofitable institution needed the guiding hand of a strong experience leader to guide it into profitability which he promptly did one year after accepting the offer.

Besides his chairmanship of the Bank of The Bahamas, Mr. Kenning served as a member of Government Boards and Committees including the Council of Economic Advisors on which he also served as Chairman and to which he brought his considerable understanding of the Bahamian economy and banking system.

Mr. Kenning together with his late wife will always be remembered by the entire Bahamas for the unselfish generosity of their time and financial gifts to our country particularly the Betty Kelly Kenning Swimming Complex and the Bahamas Humane Society.

My colleagues and I extend our deepest sympathy to the family.