Tributes Paid To The Late Anthony Manders
Premier David Burt, Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson, Head of the Public Service Dr. Derrick Binns and Opposition Leader Cole Simons all paid tribute to the late Anthony Manders, saying “his untimely passing is a tremendous loss to Bermuda.”
Minister Curtis Dickinson Statement
“Anthony was a truly dedicated public servant who always focused on delivering for the people of Bermuda. His role as the Financial Secretary was an important one, and he took this responsibility seriously,” said the Minister of Finance Curtis Dickinson.
“Everyone who has worked with Anthony knows that he was committed, hard-working and selfless. He was usually the first to arrive at the Ministry of Finance in the morning and the last to leave often late into the evening. Over the course of the last two years, Anthony was my most senior trusted adviser, helping me navigate the government organization and a colleague who provided valuable insights on Bermuda’s economic and financial matters.
“He gave his best to Bermuda, in matters domestic and international and was a key contributor to Bermuda’s successful international capital markets initiatives. He also played a key role in advising the Cabinet during the pandemic, as he and his team worked even harder to help navigate us through the unprecedented economic crisis it brought on, making sure the Government offered appropriate financial assistance to Bermudians as well as protecting our Island’s economy. I am forever grateful for his tireless commitment to our Island, his financial astuteness, and the unstinting support he gave me.”
“His passing has come as a shock to all of us at the Ministry of Finance. We are saddened, as are his colleagues within the Bermuda Government. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife and sons, his entire family, friends and colleagues. This is a great loss for the Island, and we will all miss him dearly.”
Premier David Burt Statement
Premier David Burt paid tribute to Mr. Manders saying: “A family man. A gentleman. A sportsman. A professional with an incredible work ethic and a penchant for mentoring young Bermudians. These are just some of the words I use to describe the late Financial Secretary, Mr. Anthony Manders. I was extremely shocked and saddened this morning to learn of his passing and on behalf of the government, the public service and people of Bermuda I extend my heartfelt sympathies to his wife, sons and his entire family.”
“Over the years I worked with Anthony as Junior Minister of Finance, Shadow Minister of Finance, Minister of Finance and as Premier. I respected him for his dedication to his work and politically unbiased service to 5 Ministers of Finance.
“He was a consummate public servant who would always respond at late hours and prided himself on ensuring that Bermudians were given a chance to advance in the Ministry’s departments. His untimely passing is a tremendous loss to Bermuda as he has provided steady leadership to the Ministry of Finance team during the financial challenges of the last ten years.”
“On a personal note, I counted Anthony as a friend. Whether it was football matches on the weekends or first ball on Emancipation Day, he was often in good spirits and always willing to teach me the finer sports points – especially keeping me calm during Cup Match. He will be missed.”
Head of the Public Service Dr. Derrick Binns Statement
Dr. Derrick Binns stated, “I join the many people who have paid tribute to our colleague and friend, Financial Secretary, Anthony Manders. He was an outstanding financial advisor to Premiers and Ministers. He had the unique ability to clearly explain complex financial matters to non-financial people. As a part of the Public Service Executive, he was able to bluntly communicate key financial points to his colleagues, moving us to action.
“Anthony had a firm command of the Government’s finances, and was readily able to provide a comprehensive response to any question posed. He also had a tremendous amount of patience, together with the ability to get things done. His door was always open and he invited his staff to come to him with questions and solutions.”
Dr. Binns concluded, “On behalf of the Public Service Executive and the entire Public Service, I extend heartfelt condolences to his wife, his sons, family and friends. Today Bermuda lost an outstanding financial leader and we in the Public Service lost a friend.”
Opposition Leader Cole Simons Statement
Mr Simons said, “On behalf of the One Bermuda Alliance, we offer our deepest condolences to the family of the late Anthony Manders, Financial Secretary at The Government of Bermuda and to the Ministry of Finance.
“I had the pleasure of working with Anthony in his professional capacity throughout the years and can say without reservation that he was a man of integrity, humility who had a high degree of competency and was a consummate professional. His door was always open to anyone at any time and his contributions to the Financial Services industry remain unmatched. Bermuda will miss his valued leadership.”
