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Rehab Center for persons with disabilities gets new vehicle

29th April 2016

The National Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities gets a timely State of the Art Retrofitted vehicle to transport individuals who are physically challenged.

During a brief ceremony at Harney Motors Company on American Road, a brand new Toyota Hiace Bus was officially handed over to the Government following the signing of an agreement between the Antigua and Barbuda Government and the People's Republic of China.

Health and the Environment Minister Honourable Molwyn Joseph was delighted to receive the gift.

"I remember the day when Ambassador Ren Gong Ping called me and said he was ready to assist with the transportation of individuals who are handicapped. I was so excited at the opportunity that I immediately journeyed to the Embassy and we started the discussions to get two buses. A small bus to transport two disabled individuals and a larger one to carry six to eight individuals. The second vehicle is due to arrive here next month", Joseph said.

He also sent a stern warning to the drivers and caretakers of the vehicles. "We do not tolerate any level of abuse of these vehicles and it must be known that strict enforcement will be made if any employee abuses these vehicles. This is a new era, the era when employees get into Government buses and cars and go on their own errands and abuse them, that era is over and it is very important that this message gets across".

Ambassador Ren Gong Ping said he hopes that the relationship between the two countries develops further as there is still a lot to be done. The Chinese official was on his last assignment here as the official representative before returning to China.

Imelda Wade-Carbon, the Director and Placement Officer for the National Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre on Factory Road expressed her delight with the timely donation.

The exercise was also attended by a number of employees in the ministry of health including a group from the Center for Persons with Disabilities. Also present were Ambassador Collin Murdoch and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Health and the Environment, Hildred Simpson.

For More Information Contact:
Debbie Francis
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Tel: (268) 464-8026