BASSETERRE St.Kitts - On Friday 24th December 2010 the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board launched its newest initiative geared at providing support for national development. The Ministry of National Security was the recipient of two new vehicles which were handed over to the Police Force and the Defence Force in a short ceremony held at Camp Springfield.
A Land Rover Defender 110 Station Wagon S valued at EC$116,000.00 was donated for use by the Defence Force while a Honda CR-V 2.0 RVi valued at EC$74,000.00 was donated for use by the Police Force. The two vehicles were the first in (what is to be) an annual donation of US$ 50,000.00 worth of support for the Ministry of National Security. The Social Security Board recently approved this annual donation in a bid to assist in enhancing the crime-fighting capacity of the security forces in light of current challenges.
The ceremony was chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Mrs. Astona Browne. It included brief remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor who holds both the portfolios of Social Security and National Security, Chairman of the Social Security Board Mr. Halva Hendrickson, Director of Social Security Mrs. Sephlin Lawrence, Acting Commissioner of Police Mr. Stafford Liburd, Acting Commander of the Defence Force Major Cornel Kelly and a representative of C&C Auto Services Ltd. General Manager Mr. Lester Hanley. Other officers of the high command of both security institutions were present.
It is expected that both vehicles would be deployed immediately. The purpose of this is to provide added mobility as the security forces step up their operations to coincide with the busy Christmas and Carnival season.
Social Security continues its involvement in national development by way of various programs. These include investment in education through scholarships, procurement of better health through annual donations to the health sector, and loans in the area of government housing projects.
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