Health Minister calls for action for the upkeep of cemeteries

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Parent Category: Aug 2011

Category: Week ending Aug 27th, 2011

Published on Monday, 29 August 2011 10:35

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A senior government minister in the Tillman Thomas Government in Grenada has called for a collaborative effort from every strata of society for the upkeep of public cemeteries. Minister of Health, Sen. Ann Peters said very often society tends to look at one group to get things done.

Sen. Peters made the remarks at a ceremony held last week Wednesday in which she unveiled a plaque to mark the official dedication and handing over of a Summer House at the Mt. Airy Cemetery in St. George’s to the Ministry of Health.

She said if society goes back to the days when cemeteries were taken care of by people in the various communities then a lot can be done rather than everybody looking at the ministry to handle the job. The female minister felt that if everyone can pool their resources and come together to clean the cemeteries, a greater milestone might be able to be achieved in paying tribute to loved ones who have died.

She admonished persons on the island to recommit themselves to displaying the same level of energy that is put into having the cemeteries cleaned in preparation for All Saints Day on November 1 each year.

“Have them cleaned as Gardens of Respect in memory of our loved ones who have passed (away),” she said. The Ministry of Health is tasked with the responsibility for the protection and upkeep of public cemeteries. However, Sen. Peters indicated that the upkeep of public cemeteries is a major challenge for her ministry.

“We, ourselves in the Ministry of Health, although we are saddled with the responsibility for cemeteries, (we) recognise that it is a major challenge, the grass grows quickly,” she said. The Health Minister looked at ways in which the scarce resources of the ministry can be channeled to other areas rather than being used up for the upkeep of cemeteries.

“With scarce resources do we spend the money to clean the cemetery or do we spend the money to prevent people from getting dengue, or developing complications of chronic diseases and coming to the cemetery?

“So we want you to join with us so we can spend more of the resources possibly in helping to make sure that people don’t come to the cemetery that regularly, but that when they do come, because that’s something we cannot avoid, we have the support where other organisations and groups like ‘The League of Friends’ in London, and local groups residing within the community will assist us in ensuring... the aesthetics of the cemetery are kept up to a certain standard,” she said.

Minister Peters felt that the gesture by “The League of Friends (UK) Grenada,” whose initiative it was to have the Summer House constructed, is not only for those who would come to use the facility, but is one step in recognising the contributions of those who would have died.

She noted that in recent times her ministry has been in dialogue with the Ministry of Works, and Community Development to come up with an arrangement where, as part of government’s debushing programme, teams would be sent to the cemeteries to have them cleaned. She disclosed that since last year, a Cabinet Conclusion gave the approval for that aspect of the debushing programme. The minister’s sentiment of showing respect for the dead was echoed by a religious figure from the Anglican Church.

Fr. Edward Mark who lead the opening prayer and blessed the shelter, indicated that a cemetery is set apart for those who have departed from life and that shelter should not be used as a “liming block” for idlers and idle deeds. He said as a citizen of Grenada and a resident of the area, he hopes that everyone will find it necessary to ensure that the facility is properly maintained.

The clergyman stressed that in many instances, people are not grateful and do not show their gratitude when things are given to the country. “Sometimes we do not say thanks, and sometimes when we have facilities, when we look at it six months after, the condition alone says that we were not grateful,” he said. In his prayer of thanksgiving, Fr. Mark expressed appreciation to Almighty God for answering the prayers of the community.

The Anglican Priest also prayed for God’s continued blessings upon “The League of Friends (UK) Grenada,” for their continued support and contribution to the Grenadian community. “On behalf of the religious community we want to say thanks to “The League of Friends” for their continued contribution to Grenada as a whole,” he remarked. The construction of the Summer House which began at the end of June was done at a cost of EC$20,000.00.

Chairman of the ten-member London-based group, Kester Worme said the organisation was formed 21 years ago with the primary focus being to help a number of local groups in Grenada. The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to signal the opening of the Summer House at Mt. Airy was done by Grenada’s High Commissioner to London, Ruth Rouse who, Worme said, was instrumental in assisting them with having the shelter constructed.

High Commissioner Rouse spoke of being happy to be associated with the group and being able to assist them with the project. The Summer House is to be used as a shelter from the elements of Mother Nature by mourners and sypathisers attending funerals at the cemetery.

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