PS Chief Minister Office, Beverly Mendes with retiree Josephine Ryan
The Ministry of Health awarded 34 health practitioners on Friday, October 5, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre. Seventeen (17) practitioners were awarded for over twenty (20) years of service, while twelve practitioners were awarded for over thirty years of service. Mr. Clifford Denzil Ryan was the recipient of a Special Service Award. Four retirees also received awards.
Hon. Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Jermaine Wade chaired the Appreciation and Awards ceremony. Wade said it was a momentous occasion. He added that it was quite appropriate to recognize and celebrate the health practitioners for their hard work and dedication in their many years of service to the people of Montserrat. “It is quite fitting to give you your flowers while you are alive,” Mr. Wade told the awardees.
PS Chief Minister Office, Beverly Mendes with special service awardee Clifford Ryan
The Hon. Minister of health Mr. Colin Riley told the awardees that he believed that the Ministry of Health is going to be the top preforming ministry in the government. “…..I sense that gradually there’s a reawakening of a spirit of professionalism within our ministry, and that has to be encouraged every day.”
The minister told the awardees that their commitment and dedication have motivated him to make it his top priority to work on reforming the health care system. Mr. Riley said he had been told that ‘encouragement is half a labourer’s pay’. Mr. Riley thanked the awardees for their commitment and dedication over the years.
Sister Constanshaw Anang and Nurse Nolen Meade entertained the audience with a drama presentation, reflecting on the life of health practitioners over the years.
Dental Nurse Mrs. Joy Darroux
Dental Nurse Mrs. Joy Darroux expressed appreciation on behalf of herself and the other awardees who have rendered twenty to twenty nine years of service. Mrs. Darroux told the audience that she was certain that the awardees have encountered many frustrating and difficult times. She said the thought of quitting was entertained, as she recounted that the early days of the volcanic crisis were the most challenging with the uncertainty of an active volcano and the departure of family members, friends and colleagues.
“However, we have chosen to remain on this island thus providing continuity, stability and service to the ministry and ultimately the people of Montserrat,” she said.
Hon. Minister of health Mr. Colin Riley with Principal Environmental Health Officer Mr. Trevor
Principal Environmental Health Officer Mr. Trevor Howe also expressed appreciation on behalf of himself and the other awardees who rendered over thirty years of services in the Ministry of Health. Mr Howe said he was sincerely grateful to the ministry for formally acknowledging them for their many years of dedicated service.
Mr. Howe also used the occasion to pose a caution to the Minister of Health and other managers within the ministry about the need to properly manage their retirement. “It is important that you develop the capacity and police tools to manage retirement for retirees. He concluded, “….it is important that you have something in place to ensure that all of us, that leave, can in some way or the other transfer our knowledge, transfer the institutional knowledge we have, transfer the hands on experience that we have so that the work force would continue to benefit from the key competency and skills that we have.”
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