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Friday, December 4, 2009 – The Consulate General of Saint Lucia in
Toronto wishes to update Saint Lucians at home with its efforts and that of
Saint Lucians in the Canadian Diaspora in mobilizing relief support for St Jude
Hospital. The Consul is expressing its firm solidarity with the Government and
people of our homeland in the efforts geared towards the reconstruction of St
Jude Hospital.
The response to the St. Jude’s Hospital disaster was immediate as the O.E.C.S.
High Commission in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto were besieged by
enquiries and offers of donations of time and money towards this relief effort.
These offers came not only from Saint Lucians but from other Caribbean nationals
and friends.
Meetings were held by the Associations in the provinces of Calgary, Ottawa,
Montreal and Toronto to coordinate various aspects of the relief effort in
conjunction with the Consulate General and the High Commission. High
Commissioner Brendon Browne has advised our Government that he would apply the
resources of his office towards petitioning the Federal Government for various
forms of relief.
On Thursday the seventeenth day of September, 2009 the Consulate General of
Saint Lucia received its first donation of diabetic, pediatric and maternity
equipment and supplies from the Rouge Valley Medical System.
This donation was the culmination of nine months of effort on the part of the
Consul General Stephen C. J Julien and Ms. Sheri Ferkl RN, DS, MN, Manager of
Facilities, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatrics. After receiving news on
St. Jude they redoubled their efforts to conclude this transaction and with the
assistance of members of the Saint Lucian Community were able to load and secure
two 40 foot containers with equipment.
The equipment in this shipment, include Maternity Equipment, Beds, General
Medicines, Radiology Equipment and Resuscitation Supplies among others.
The first of these containers arrived in Saint Lucia in mid October, 2009. All
freight and handling costs were generously borne by a perennial donor in the
person of Saint Lucian businessman, Mr. Ken Chitolie of KLC Shipping.
A further donation of an ophthalmic camera (Topcon TRC 50VT with a Byers
Digiprinter II) was made to Consul General Stephen C. J Julien by Mr. Taras
Kulish Esq. of Hope Worldwide of Canada. This charitable organization has a
history of service to St.Jude’s Hospital. They have pledged to redouble their
efforts in the procurement of equipment for the hospital.
The members of the diaspora continue to be engaged in intensive relief efforts
in order to secure medical supplies for St. Jude Hospital. As part of the
general response to the St. Jude disaster a special Mass was held on Sunday the
27th day of September 2009 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church.
This Mass was offered for the repose of the souls of the victims of the St. Jude
fire. The mass was also attended by members of the Constitution Review
Commission who were in Toronto as part of the consultation process.
The Consul General of Saint Lucia in Toronto wishes to advise all Saint Lucians
of the Diaspora’s continued commitment to this relief effort and in furtherance
of this several special fundraising activities have planned and will be
announced in the coming months.
Stephen C. J. Julien
Consul General of Saint Lucia
November 23rd, 2009
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