Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 14, 2019 (SKNIS): Minister of State with responsibility for Health, the Honourable Senator Wendy Phipps has hailed the visit by the US Naval Ship Comfort to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis from October 05-10, 2019 as significant, as it helped to strengthen the country’s longstanding diplomatic relations with the United States of America.

“It is a gesture that is well-received, a gesture that our people are appreciative of,” said Senator Phipps during the closing ceremony on Friday, October 11. “It is the first time we would have had such an extensive visit with medical interventions being offered as an effort to extend or to further concretize the bilateral relations that St. Kitts and Nevis continues to enjoy with the United States of America,” she added, noting that the Federation is grateful to be given the opportunity to build on the strong relationship.

Minister Phipps noted that it was an excellent exercise that highlighted the value of partnership.

“I think this demonstration that we have seen – whether it was through dental services, optometry, or the surgical interventions – says a lot, and it tells us that we all need each other, and the support systems and the mechanisms that would be in place to ensure that happening, are the key to making a difference in the lives of people,” Senator Phipps added.

She used the occasion to expressed thanks and appreciation to all those who played a pivotal role in ensuring that the initiative was a resounding success.  She especially thanked the crew of the USNS Comfort and by extension the Government of the United States of America.

The US Naval Ship Comfort is a floating medical treatment facility/hospital. This floating hospital and its staff have been deployed by the Government of the United States of America to offer medical care to the people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and in ten (10) other Latin American and Caribbean territories.