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Wheelchair Distribution - Phase 2
Together, we can do so much more.
Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association, through their Tourism Enhancement Fund financed the purchase of approximately 270 wheelchairs for those most in need in Saint Lucia. | The project was conceived by the Rotary Club of Gros Islet back in May 2018. Rotary Club of Saint Lucia through PP Konrad Wagner, who is a member of the Hotel Association, suggested the project to the executive of the Association and the idea was favourably received. | Gros Islet Rotary had commenced discussions with the Wheelchair Foundation who had agreed to assist with meeting up to half of the cost of a 40 foot container of wheelchairs. With the assistance of the Wheelchair Foundation, we were able to secure the best possible price for the chairs. |
PP Konrad worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition. On Saturday July 13th a few of the members of the Rotary Club of Saint Lucia, ably supported by your editor representing RC Gros Islet, destuffed the 40 foot container. | On Wednesday July 17th, the President of the Hotel & Tourism Association, Mrs. Carolyn Troubetzkoy, along with executive member Mr. John Mathurin and other officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Transformation, including the Honorable Minister, Leonard (Spider) Montoute, were on hand to mark the start of the distribution phase of the chairs. | The Distribution of the Chairs will be carried out by the Rotary Clubs of Gros Islet and Saint Lucia over the next couple of weeks. This is a prime example of cooperation between the Rotary Club of Saint Lucia and the Rotary Club of Gros Islet as we join forces with partner organizations - The Tourism Development Fund, and the World Wheelchair Foundation, to bring badly needed assistance to so many Saint Lucians. |
On Wednesday, December 5th, 2018, members of the Rotary Club of Gros Islet handed over a mobile dental unit to the Department of Health and Wellness. At a brief ceremony at The Boys Training Centre at Massade, Gros Islet, where the unit will be located initially, Past President Matt Render, who is the current Rotary Foundation Chair for the Rotary Club of Gros Islet, officially handed the unit over to Minister for Health and Wellness, Senator, the Honourable Mary Isaac and Dr. Sherry Ephraim-LeCompte, Senior Dental Surgeon. The hand over was attended by Mr. Wang Sonson, Manager of the Boys’ Training Centre, staff and trainees. Also in attendance were members of the Government Information Service, Hot FM Television, and DBS.
Past President Matt said that the unit was purchased through a District Grant which meant that the money came from The Rotary Foundation. This unit replaces a mobile unit that Rotary Gros Islet had purchased through an earlier Grant, but which had been destroyed by floods some years earlier. The Foundation is funded by Rotarians worldwide and Rotary Gros Islet has received Grants from the Foundation well in excess of what Local Rotarians have contributed.
Past President Matt cited the last major project which was a 150,000-gallon water tank at Plateau Babonneau which currently provides water to approximately six thousand persons in the surrounding area. The value of this project exceeded $500,000 with Rotary in the District funding a mere $15,000 approximately, the remainder coming from Rotary in Florida/Georgia USA, and the Rotary Foundation.
Minister Isaac for her part expressed the gratitude of her government for the support that Rotary has provided to the communities in Saint Lucia and in particular for this latest donation valued at US$9,000.
The mobile dental unit allows the Department of Health and Wellness to deploy dental technicians to schools in the North and carry out preventative procedures to promote good dental health. In the past, the deployment of the earlier unit, assisted the Health Services to reduce the incidence of cavities in school children significantly. The Rotary Club of Gros islet also paid for the dental treatments out of its’ own resourses.
Service Above Self
Gros Islet/ Castries, lc
Saint Lucia