BASSETERRE ST. KITTS (June 22, 2011) - General Manager of the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mr Lenworth Harris, has said that having confirmed there is correlation between development and health, the bank is strengthening its partnership with the Ministry of Health as the bank celebrates its 30th anniversary.
“We believe health is fundamental to the development of our communities,” said Harris. “So, the Development Bank being in the development business intends to do whatever it can, in whatever little or major way to facilitate this process.”
The General Manager made the remarks on Wednesday June 22, at the St. Paul’s Health Centre, where he presented to the Director of Community Health Services Dr Hazel Williams-Roberts, tiles and related materials to be used for the centre’s refurbishment.
“It is indeed a pleasure for the Development Bank celebrating 30th year of its existence to be in a position to partner with the Ministry of Health,” observed Harris. “Over the last three years we have developed a healthy, in its true sense, relationship -- one that we hope can grow because without health, we would not be here.”
Mr Harris, who was accompanied by the bank’s Marketing Manager, Ms Marva Burroughs, said that the presentation of the material to be used to make the service area more accommodating both for staff and the users was just a small token of the bank’s appreciation for what the Ministry of Health has done for the bank.
Established by an Act of Parliament No. 1 of 1981, the bank which is wholly owned by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis opened its doors to the public on May 22 of the same year. Thanking the centre’s staff and members of the public who witnessed the presentation, Mr Harris said: “It is now time for us to give some dividend back to society.”
After receiving the material from Mr Harris, Dr Hazel Williams-Roberts who also chaired the ceremony proceedings, invited the Minister of Health, Social Services, Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Hon Marcella Liburd to make brief remarks. Others present were Ms Roslyn Warner, District Community Nurse, and Mrs Alicia Mulley, Nursing Assistant.
“The handing over of tiles and other materials to tile the sector may sound simple, but it goes a long way towards our delivery of health care,” said Hon Liburd. “Part of delivery means that the actual infrastructure must also be in a condition for people to feel comfortable both staff and the persons who visit and who come for treatment.”
She commented that she fully endorsed what Mr Harris said about the partnership between Development Bank and the Ministry of Health and pointed out that in the short time that she has been the minister she would have received on behalf of the Ministry assistance from the bank for the various sectors in her ministry.
The Minister of Health said that she had received, from the Development Bank, funds for the refurbishment of the mental health facility at Joseph N France General Hospital commenting that it has gone a long way towards enhancing the infrastructure there and helping with delivery of health care to patients with mental illnesses.
“I have also witnessed a ceremony of the handing over of a stove and a washing machine to the Mary Charles Hospital in Molyneux,” said Hon Liburd. “I know that the Development Bank has been an extremely good corporate citizen and we wish other corporate entities to follow the example of the Development Bank to come out and support us in health and in other areas for the benefit of the communities and the country.”
In conclusion she said: “I want to thank the Development Bank for again showing this gesture to us and we in turn should support the Development Bank in its efforts to help us individually and collectively as nation.”
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