Fletcher St. Jean

They’ve built a legacy, but the blueprint was written here. Take a look back at the story that defined this Classic Man before the headlines did…

He left Dominica at three years old. Mom had decided that she was going to leave her home and move to St. Martin for a better life. She did her best as a single mom, but mothers, you know how it can be. Things were challenging, but thankfully, there was a beautiful alternative, one that changed Fletcher’s life forever.

My dad came for me when I was five years old, and my life began in Nevis. I look back at it now, and I realize how different my life would have been if I had stayed with my mother. A young man needs his father. My dad stepped in and did what he thought would be best for me, and doing this gave me the stability I needed.

Growing up on a different island than the one you were born on was tough back then. When I went to Nevis at five years old, there was no cultural diversity. Whenever people had a chance, they would remind me that I was not from there. I always had to prove myself, and I believe this is what made me mentally tough. I have been shaped and moulded by my adversity.”

This edition’s Classic Man lives on the beautiful Island of St. Lucia. The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited to the 53^rd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank, which took place from June 19^th-23^rd, 2023 in Saint Lucia. The Annual Meeting brought together the Bank’s highest decision-making body to discuss key development challenges facing the region.

Around 200 delegates in the country and hundreds more online attended this year’s meeting, including government ministers and officials, development partners, private sector representatives, members of civil society, academia, and of course media.

It was during a sponsored luncheon hosted by 1^st National Bank St. Lucia Limited, that I first heard Mr Fletcher St. Jean. During his lunch opening speech, he quoted the Honourable Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance John G. M. Compton,

 “Any tribute to the St. Lucia Co-operative Bank is indeed a tribute to those St. Lucians who, in the midst of the World Depression of the 1930’s had the courage and foresight and the confidence in our people, to pioneer the creation of an institution designed to meet the needs of those of our poor but industrious people, whose requirements were not adequately catered for by the regular commercial banks.”

My ears perked up: the topic of resilience always moved me. He went on to explain that the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a paradigm shift; collectively as a region they had experienced economic slumps that they had not seen for over 100 years. As a region they experienced significant unemployment, which placed a tremendous burden not only on governments, but also on the people.

As they navigated post Covid, 2021 was a remarkable year for 1^st National Bank as for the first time in the Bank’s 83-year history, they successfully signed an agreement to acquire the operations of two international banks in that of the St. Lucia RBC operations, and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines RBTT operations.

Our Classic Man, Fletcher St. Jean, is the Managing Director of 1^st National Bank St. Lucia Limited. As you know, this feature is set up to provide tenacious, positive role models for our young African-Caribbean men during a time when being an athlete, an influencer, or a thug has become popularized. During my short time speaking with him, I saw how other young men could definitely relate to his story.

I have already given you a little bit about Mr. St. Jean’s earlier years, but with the vast amount of experience he has, I had to fast forward a few years. Let’s bring us to the year 1996.

“I was a couple years removed from 6^th form (O.A.C, or Grade 13 to Canadians),” Mr. St. Jean continued, “I decided to take a couple years off and explore a project idea that many told me I would never be able to pull off. I went into the entertainment business. saw an opportunity to give young regional women exposure, and gain experience through the arts of pageantry. I would help prepare them for international pageantry events, which gave rise to the birth of The Miss Leeward Island Queen of Queens Pageant featuring reigning Carnival Queens from 9 Leeward Islands (Saint Kitts, Nevis, French St. Martin, Dutch St. Martin, Saba, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda).

The planning work was difficult and exhausting, but it gave a launch to the first regional event of its kind in Nevis. Many thought it would not happen; some said I was too young to plan an event of this magnitude. It was just the push I needed to pull it off. I started early, learning to make mistakes, and experiencing life early. I learned a lot from it. People doubted me, and this only made me work harder.

In 1997, the event’s second year, the late great Honourable Malcolm Guishard (then Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism, Culture, & Communications) invited me to host the event during Nevis Culturama Summer Festival. That’s right, I had got it done, and now the Pageant was on the main stage.

I received a call from other creative thinkers asking for the rights to carry on the show, which was granted. Today some 20 years later that shows touts as The Flow Miss Caribbean Culture Show.

I enjoyed this part of my life, but it was time for me to move on.”

He saw the need to pursue higher education, attending Baruch College, CUNY in NY.

“Life changed for me in university, I became extremely focused, and dedicated; things were just different for me. While pursuing my undergraduate studies in Finance and Accounting, the university hired me as an accounting tutor to first- and second-year students. Coupled with this, during my senior year I was voted President of the Business Club, becoming the first student from the Caribbean as well as the first student of colour to hold this position.

While pursuing my undergraduate program during my senior year, I was granted early and free admission into the graduate program to start my MBA degree (only nine free MBA credits were allowed) while also simultaneously completing my Bachelors. This was based on honours merit as well as student life activity.

Also, during my senior year, I was one of the successful candidates on a nationally recruited internship program with MasterCard International, as a finance intern. I’m proud of that moment because all other interns were from Ivy League universities.

Upon completing my MBA, I was afforded a fast-track management role with CitiGroup one of the World Fortune 500 Financial companies. The last 20 years I’ve spent developing my finance acumen.”

Today, here he is, holding one of the most prestigious finance jobs in the region; the Managing Director of 1^st National Bank (St Lucia).

1^st National Bank St. Lucia Limited opened for business in January 1938, as The Co-operative Bank, with a capital of $50,000. Known for several decades as St Lucia Co-operative Bank Limited, the institution has over time grown its reputation to become one of the top financial institutions in the eastern Caribbean.

As they continue to grow and expand their financial footprint, they stand firm as a $1.7 billion-dollar regional financial institution with operations in St. Lucia and St. Vincent. Indeed, a milestone that the institution’s: founding fathers, shareholders, customers, Board of Directors, staff, and all those who have contributed to the development to the growth of this institution should be extremely proud of.

Their commitment to serving the people here in St. Lucia and St. Vincent is evident, as thus far for 2023, they have issued nearly $100M in financing. As a bank, they recognize their importance in stimulating economic growth. In 2017, with a couple partners they launched EZirates Inc., another first, and another innovative model for the ECCU region. A platform still with vast opportunities and they are looking to re-launch this project soon.

“It is an indigenous bank,” Mr. St. Jean shared, The only one in St. Lucia. We want to maintain the community spirit, with an international feel. We are projected to be a 2.5-billion-dollar bank by 2025, and in five years a 3-billion-dollar bank. We want to maintain the focus on the community. This is your bank! We will expand our ATM footprint, and we want to enhance our technology. The introduction of increased digital transactions will help to drastically reduce wait times for a number of services, resulting in better turnaround rates and better customer service delivery.

“As I look back,” Mr. St. Jean reflected, “The road to now, the ups and down; I’ve always maintained my resilience. Today I am hoping this message will reach a young dreamer. My advice is keep pushing. Fall forward. Let’s go get it!”