Nadine Carty Caines (L) and Elvin Bailey
Charlestown, Nevis
July 25, 2008
The St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board continued to show its commitment to organizations across the island when it gave financial support to the Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit to assist in the fight and education of the disease. The financial institution also made a similar donation to the Culturama Committee to assist with the sponsorship of the festival.
The presentations took place at the Cotton Ginnery courtyard in Charlestown on July 24, 2008. During the presentation to the Unit, Assistant Director of Public Relations, Statistics and Research Mr. Elvin Bailey explained that Health education was a key area that his institution had decided to contribute to.
“Two things that Social Security has taken onto itself to do which it does not have to do by law is to partner with the Ministry of Health and to Partner with the Ministry of Education because we believe that an educated healthy population will be a working population and a working population will contribute to Social Security and Social Security therefore, would enjoy long and healthy life from our constituents, our clients our insured persons – one continue to grow; two live for a long time and three, continue to be productive.
“So when we were approached to ask to contribute to continuing education in health it really was a no brainer for us. It was something that we had to do and so it pleases my heart on behalf of Social Security to donate to the HIV Unit through the Nevis Island Administration this cheque for your continued use in the education of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, Nevis in particular and especially the young people,” he said.
HIV/AIDS Education Prevention Officer on Nevis Mrs. Nadine Carty Caines, thanked Social Security for its financial assistance and noted that the funds would go toward an ongoing AIDS awareness programme.
“It is basically a way of getting the information from the young people. I know we give out information all the time so we wanted to know what do you know as young people so we have this song competition that we launched and it’s to be executed after the Culturama season to be determined so there’s time for people to submit and original song to the HIV Unit to take part in the competition and this is what this fund is going to specifically,” she said.
Meantime, during the presentation to the Culturama Committee Mr. Bailey said the donation was made to the Culturama Festival because the festival generated a lot of economic activity and it helped to preserve the culture of the people.
“It’s a time for reunion, it’s a time of celebration, it’s a time of giving, it is never about money making”¦We feel at Social Security, that when people work and when people work hard, we expect them to contribute to the fullest and it is our turn, therefore, to give back to the community and that has a revolving effect. So I am quite delighted once again, to donate on behalf on the Social Security Board of St. Kitts and Nevis”¦We hope that all will go well and the people will truly enjoy themselves this year,” he said.
Chairman of Culturama 2K8 Mr. Byron thanked the Board for its donation and stated that he was pleased they could partner with the Nevis Culturama Committee.
“On behalf of the Nevis Culturama Committee I have to say how happy we are once again to receive this cheque of $2,500. Certainly we are happy that the Social Security Board can partner with us and we look forward to a long lasting relationship.
“I think everybody benefits from Culturama especially our business owners, especially our small business owners. We care so much about our small owners and we are very happy Culturama can provide the avenue so that they can make some money around this time and also contribute to the Social Security Board so that they in turn can also continue to share with us,” he said.