President Savarin spreads holiday cheer

President Savarin greets a patient at the PMH
President Savarin greets a patient at the PMH

Spending time on a hospital bed during the Christmas season may seem dreary for many who fall victim to this fate however President Charles Savarin, his wife Clara Savarin along with other Ministry officials visited the Princess Margaret Hospital on Thursday in an attempt to spread some holiday cheer.

Health Minister Julius Timothy, National Security Minister Senator Alvin Bernard and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Helen Royer also joined the President on the visit.

The President visited all seven wards of the Princess Margaret Hospital, shaking hands and exchanging smiles and encouraging words to the patients and nurses on the wards.

The visit to the hospital is President Savarin’s first since he was sworn in on October 2nd, 2013.

In a speech following the visit Savarin said “it is a distinct pleasure for me to follow the tradition of my predecessors in office in using this time of year to interact with the patients of our island and our country health care workers and to extend Christmas greetings to you all and to all Dominicans at home and abroad. there is no other annual celebration which traditionally brings out the goodness in our people like the celebration of the birth of Christ.”

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36 Comments

  1. open mind
    December 14, 2013

    I hope the boarders voice their concerns.

  2. Man on the Ground
    December 14, 2013

    Dominicans come on. this has gone on for every year that i am living in dominica. nothing is new under the sun. i have been making a contribution to the grotto,the homeless the less fortunate every other day god give me life on this panel, should i beat my chest for what i am doing.this is what the almighty expect from us every day,to share the love.
    the president and the pm have all the means to make the lives of these people more intersting day by day but even when they visit onec a year we jump for joy like its the best thing that we ever see. we are just living in a fools paradise. we are looking for something where there is nothing,
    the cabal is trying to get to guadeloupe but their motorcade is heading south bond.a lost ship .

  3. 4CARS
    December 14, 2013

    Then after they leave the Hospital they’ll shake hands (on their way out) with well wishers spreading germs around.

  4. 4CARS
    December 14, 2013

    Savrin – “Rise up and walk! in the name of my master skerritt.”

  5. Desmond
    December 14, 2013

    Let them talk but the work must go on, very nice Mr. President, they crucified Jesus, you too will get your fair share, but be strong their are those who are wise and those who are other wise.God bless you the govt and Dominicans in the new year.

  6. Doc. Love
    December 14, 2013

    I hope Savarin took the opportunity to visit the Maternity Ward. :lol:

  7. ACARS
    December 13, 2013

    He giving the last sacrament?

    • Justice and Truth
      December 15, 2013

      Beware of your inconsideration, joke and blasphemy. :twisted:

  8. raindrops
    December 13, 2013

    that’s great keep it going

  9. Ashley
    December 13, 2013

    who cares where savarin goes, pretending like they care about sick people.

    • muchtosay
      December 14, 2013

      great point… more about boosting his popularity

    • 4CARS
      December 14, 2013

      I’m sick in my head due to lack of jobs, and no one comes to me. Guess I must go to the PMH where they’ll meet and greet me.

    • Justice and Truth
      December 15, 2013

      Does this warrant criticism and derogatory statements from you? What do you know? Are you aware that we should visit the sick? Do not use every act to criticize the President and the government for that matter. If you are a baptized Catholic and a practicing one who did not forget what you were taught, you should have learned, The Corporal Works of Mercy are:

      Feed the hungry
      Give drink to the thirsty
      Clothe the naked
      Shelter the homeless
      Visit the sick
      Visit the imprisoned
      Bury the dead.

      The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

      Counsel the doubtful
      Instruct the ignorant
      Admonish the sinner
      Comfort the sorrowful
      Forgive injuries
      Bear wrongs patiently
      Pray for the living and the dead.

      There are some who will dispute some of this. This is the “religious teaching” of the Catholic Church. Think of The Beatitudes that Our Lord taught us. By all this God will judge us if we fail to practice them. Take a lesson from them.

  10. Enquirer
    December 13, 2013

    This is normal. The Presidents before visited the inmates. The Prime Ministers do the same as well. I remember during dame Eugenia’s tenure she visited I was a patient then.
    Its good to see the heads visit the institution and they should not wait for Christmas, why not try it every 6 months.
    I know President Liverpool visited the hospital and the infirmary.
    These types of institutions should get regular visits from the head of state, so they could get an understanding of what goes on there.

  11. shawty
    December 13, 2013

    well done Mr President and company…. these people for sure appreciated you all presence… keep it up and God bless

  12. POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
    December 13, 2013

    As a health professional I am appalled that the president has the sleeves of his outer jacket all over the patients bed rail. Moving from one patient to another. Any concerns about contact precaution? What of infection control practices, with a staff nurse looking on?

    Health Professional

    • December 13, 2013

      For crying out loud, should he roll his sleeve up to shake the patients hand while greeting him? Would u make that comment if it was a doctor with or without a lab coat going from one patient to another?
      Am sure if there was a concern, the nurse is efficient enough to do or take the necessary precautions.
      Stop being so judgemental.

    • Toomatoe Tomato
      December 14, 2013

      I suppose you have never seen anyone on the buses and streets in their professional health uniform going to work and going from patient to patient. And there don’t seem to be any problems with that detrimental to the patients’ health.

      Make the comparison and come again.

      And I suppose this President is the first person you have ever seen visit the sick.

      Good going Mr. President keep spreading the Holiday Cheer and make as much people as you can happy this Christmas Season and leave the Scrooges do what they do best.

  13. 4CARS
    December 13, 2013

    Give the Nurses a raise! they need it bad.

  14. 4CARS
    December 13, 2013

    Soon they will be in the Roseau sea drilling for Oil. You don’t do “good” deeds to look good at a particular time in your life based on your position. You do good deeds all the time, if you are good.

  15. Red Hot
    December 13, 2013

    Well done Sir, I appauld you. Excellent keep it up.

  16. jane messam
    December 13, 2013

    Well done Sir. It would be nice if you could visit the sck in hospital periodicly and not just at Christmas.

  17. faceup
    December 13, 2013

    Savrain or what ever they name you as. You come in de hospital with your hand swinging. DID YOU EVER THINK OF A LITTLE CHARITY OUT OF THAT BIG CHECK THEY GIVING YOU EH ?, is hand shake you giving them…

  18. verniceI
    December 13, 2013

    Hearts off to His Excellency and Wife also Hon Senator Alvin Bernard for spreading warmth during the Christmas Season, I have to admit that I believe that it is quite a Humble and Most Respectful gesture by His Excellency for visiting the sick and depressed, May the Lord continue to bless the Commonwealth of Dominica

  19. Wesley Empress
    December 13, 2013

    Very good gesture. Congrats mr. President

  20. 2Cute
    December 13, 2013

    Forget the thought of Mr.President.

    What you all have to notice is that some people are suffering while we take life for granted .Stop Complaining,Put God First and thank him when things are good and even when its ruff because when you think you have it bad someone out there have it worse.

    Blessings.One Love My People.

  21. Anonymous
    December 13, 2013

    Patriot if you were so patriotic you should know that the visit of HE The President to the PMH is an annually event for Christmas. This is not the first year. But I guess this is your first year as a patriot.

  22. Anonymous
    December 13, 2013

    Kudos to the President! This makes such a difference for those that are sick. May god bless him to continue his good work.

    • xxx
      December 13, 2013

      can his visit heal the sick?

  23. Hurtault
    December 13, 2013

    This is good work. I like it but I worry whether Lennox Linton is causing our current leaders to do all they can do now :)

  24. patriot
    December 13, 2013

    Way to go Mr President!
    keep it up.

    Now lets wait and see what negative comments will emerge.

    • Next level
      December 13, 2013

      Patriot u are the first to make a negative comment why your thinking is so Low come man

    • Del
      December 13, 2013

      So if the PM and his possie doing wrong, is that negative or positive? I am glad President Savarin visiting the sick. That’s good. It still doesn’t take away from all the nonsense the PM does and some Dominicans refuse to acknowledge.
      I think this is a positive comment though.

    • MissB
      December 13, 2013

      Nothing negative will come from that my friend . You are the one sending negative vibes now

    • Red Hot
      December 13, 2013

      I am waiting to, to see what bad they are going to say about the President. Lets wait an see.

      • 4CARS
        December 13, 2013

        @ “Red Hot” You expect it! don’t you? To visit the sick because you are “President”? Come on! pure hypocrisy. When last was he a visitor there before becoming “President”? A good track record is always good. Let’s hope he keeps it up after he’s no longer President.

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