PM Douglas urges civil servants to renew their commitment to serve the general public

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (extreme left) speaking to health care workers at the Football Stadium on Wednesday morning.

BASSETERRE, ST.KITTS, AUGUST 29TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas urged civil servants Wednesday to renew a commitment to courtesy and civility in their dealings with both not only their co-workers but also the members of the general public that they serve.

Addressing employees in the health sector at the Football Stadium Wednesday morning to inform them of the enhanced Group Medical Insurance Scheme, Prime Minister Douglas also made a call for a renewed commitment to excellence in the time that is committed and the quality of work that they produce.

“A commitment to faithfully schedule the annual checkups that are provided free of charge – even when we are feeling solidly robust and incredibly strong. An ounce of prevention, after all, is far superior to ten pounds of cure,” urged the Prime Minister, himself a medical doctor

He told them there were particular moments throughout the many years that he have served as Prime Minister that will forever stand out as very special – and, indeed, unforgettable – high points in his tenure.

“This is one of them. And this is one of them because I am keenly aware of the importance of Government employees to the overall performance of the Government, to the safety of the populace and the well-being of the nation,” said Prime Minister Douglas in the presence of Minister of Health, the Hon. Marcella Liburd, Chair of the Public Service Modernisation Committee and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour and Social Security, Mr. Elvis Newton; Chief Personnel Officer, Mrs. Torfreda Rochester; Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr. Calvin Edwards and Mr. John Rocheford of CJN Galagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd.

Chairman of the Civil Service Modernisation Committee, Mr. Elvis Newton; Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas; Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr. Calvin Edwards and Nursing Assistant, Ms. Veronica Eddy.

“I am more aware than most, of the role that Government employees play in the fulfillment of the dreams and aspirations of thousands upon thousands of our fellow nationals,” said Dr. Douglas.

He pointed out that people throughout the Federation count on Government employees to ensure that policies are properly implemented to do a number of things.

“To provide for their physical safety in times of emergency, to equip their children to compete in the world of work, to keep our public spaces clean, to ensure that proper taxes are levied, to provide the proper guidance and inputs to our farmers and so forth and so on,” said the Prime Minister.

He said his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government did all in its power to ensure that the caliber of medical benefits is provided that would liberate public employees – psychologically – so that they might apply themselves fully, without health-care related worries or preoccupations, to the varied and important tasks that are placed before them, in order to serve the interests of our nation.

Prime Minister Douglas also said his Government has long been so committed to freeing public employees from the dread that weighs so heavily in the hearts of millions around the world – the fear of a loved one developing a major and costly illness, the treatment for which neither they nor their families can even remotely begin to afford.

A section of the cadre of health workers at the information session. (Photos by Erasmus Williams)

“And in those situations, one is forced to carry a double burden – first the heartache of seeing a loved one suffers, and second, the heartache of being utterly powerless to help. This is not a good experience for anyone to have. And it was against this dreaded experience that my Government has been working so doggedly to insulate those whose work promotes the smooth running of the Government,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.

He took pride in officially announcing the sweeping and dramatic expansion in the medical insurance that will now be provided by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to all of its employees.

For the first time, all Government employees – civil servants and auxiliary workers will for the first time be provided Life insurance coverage of $10,000.

Accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $10,000, up to $50,000 in AIDS-related coverage, annual physical examinations, Air ambulance services, dental care, vision care, an increase in medical insurance benefit from a cap of $100,000 to a cap of $750,000 renewable every three years.

“All free of cost, especially at a time when we know that things are very difficult, given the global and domestic economic and financial challenges we are facing. This is timely. Without requiring even on cent, by way of payment, from Government employees,” said Prime Minister Douglas.