BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DUBBED a Good Samaritan, a wealthy businessman, who is in his 60s, has committed himself to paying lifetime monthly membership dues for 50 individuals who are willing to take advantage of the medical evacuation coverage options being offered by the Medical Air Services Association Assist (MASA-A).
This announcement was made last week by Operation Rescue member Dwyer Astaphan during his organisation’s radio programme ‘The Operating Room’ on WINN FM.
He however pointed out that the offer is extended only to citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis who are classified as “needy” and are unable to pay for their own membership.
Astaphan stated that the businessman is a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis through the Citizenship By Investment programme and that he had met him in the company of Eleisa Maynard, the Country Manager for MASA Assist, where they held discussions on the proposal.
The former Minister of National Security said while it is not a done deal, the businessman did approve him mentioning it on the radio and to assemble the list of persons and work out the details with Maynard.
“I am being asked to identify and put this number of persons together so that he can put this information in and get these people subscribed. He also said that he is willing to provide this service to those individuals for the rest of their lives, and when he dies his children would continue making the contributions.”
He also said that the businessman had come from humble beginnings and is aware of what is happening in the Federation.
“He has become quite aware of what is happening in our country. He comes from a background of depravation and oppression and he seems to have a tremendous amount of compassion for the people of this country. He wants to see the people of this country empowered in a genuine manner.”
Astaphan also announced how individuals who are interested in this offer could get in contact with him.
“I am asking people out there, if you are interested in this, you can get in touch with me at 466-5744 or 662-4921, or dwyerastaphan@yahoo.com. When you contact me, I will give you more details as to what we need from you.”
Dubbing the businessman a “Good Samaritan” Astaphan said: “It is a rare hope, he has the right attitude and it is nice to know that people of means will come here and be willing to join not only in economic activities, but also in the social development and invest themselves compassionately in the lives of people in the country.”
In an interview with MASA Assist’s Country Manager, SKNVibes was told that the businessman had indeed made an offer to pay the membership dues for 50 citizens in the Federation.
“The offer that was made to MASA Assist of St. Kitts is to have 50 individuals have their membership in MASA, and it is sponsored by that citizen because they are on the lower end of the economic spectrum. In other words, they would like the coverage that MASA Assist offers but are unable to afford the US$10 or EC$27 per month.
“And so the citizen has offered to pay the dues for these individuals for as long as they live, which means a commitment of US$6,000 per year. This would give them the absolute assurance of transportation within the Caribbean to our normal destinations – Trinidad, Barbados and Puerto Rico – because of the trauma centers they have which are capable of taking care of people with serious medical cases that cannot be handled locally.”
Maynard explained that the offer would allow the individuals to be transported to any of those countries in a medical emergency or in keeping with the company’s programme, which allows members to have the benefit of commercial air transport within any country of its basic coverage area.
Those countries, she said, in addition to the Caribbean, are the United States of America and Canada that members would be flown to for medical cases that are not emergencies but which require overnight hospitalisation.
“These two benefits, in addition to the other 13 benefits that we offer, including worldwide coverage, mortal remains transport and repatriation of members once they would have been declared well to travel, et cetera, are being extended to these people who come to MASA through the generosity of the fellow citizen,” Maynard said.
She has extended an invitation to those people who are willing to take up the businessman’s offer and also to those individuals who are not au fait with MASA Assist’s benefits to visit the office, which is situated at the junction of Prince’s and Delisle Streets in downtown Basseterre.
She can also be contacted at 465-5580 or email knoffice@medairservices.com
Meanwhile, Astaphan is encouraging employers to make use of MASA Assist’s services by including it in the packages that they offer to their workers.
He also made reference to the Government’s National Insurance Plan which is in the making.
“Not too far from now, everybody will be able to access the National Insurance Plan which will cover medical evacuation, among other things. It can be good if the Government can speak to MASA to be part of that process. It is a service that can save lives.”
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