Those are the words of exclamation by the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Authority of Anguilla, Mrs. Maeza Demis-Adams.
She was at the time delivering the Vote of Thanks at the handing over ceremony for the costly and expansive refurbishment of the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The event, on December 29, followed some two-and-a-half years of work – after the destructive Hurricane Irma – by local architects and contractors, with funding from the United Kingdom Government through the Governor’s Office.
Chairing the ceremony, Mr. Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary, Health, said in part: “Welcome to the handing over of the keys to the upgraded premiere health institution in Anguilla – in fact our only 24-hour health institution. As you know, the Princess Alexandra Hospital opened in 1980/90, or thereabout, after it was constructed with aid from the British Government. But it has also been a generation since the Anguilla Health Authority, in particular, the hospital, has had any upgrades – and we have had a hodge-podge of fixes here and there. Particularly since Hurricane Irma and, then again, since June 2020, it is the first time that the Health Authority has had a comprehensive upgrade of its facilities and its equipment since the late 80’s. Today we are witnessing a seminal moment – not only for the Government of Anguilla, but the people of Anguilla – because, as you are aware, health is critical to any developing nation.”
Among other speakers were the Premier and Minister of Finance and Health, Dr. Ellis Webster, and Governor Tim Foy. The Premier expressed the Government’s gratitude to the UK Government, and the British taxpayers, for financing the refurbishing of the hospital: the provision of new services, including the Covid-19 facilities; an oxygen generating plant; electricity generators; a new storage unit; new and upgraded wards; as well as the new polyclinics in The Valley and in the Road South district.
Governor Foy was pleased that the UK Government, through his office, had provided the necessary funding, equipment and technical services to upgrade the hospital and, generally, to improve Anguilla’s health services.
Following the Vote of Thanks, the Governor and his wife were presented with gifts on behalf of the Government and people of Anguilla.
A large and symbolic gold key was presented by Governor Foy, Mr. Rogers and Mrs. Demis-Adams, to Premier Webster in his capacity as Minister of Health.
During the ceremony, Richard’s Architecture, represented by Mr. Cleve Richards and his family; Mr. Lewis Liburd of PACE Construction, his team and others, were highly commended for undertaking the challenging work at the hospital.
