RENAMING OF NEWTOWN HEALTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRES REFLECTS THE NATION’S COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT, SAYS PRIME MINISTER DR. DREW

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, February 17, 2026 (SKNIS): Prime Minister, the  Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, has underscored the deep meaning and enduring legacy behind the renaming of the Newtown Health Centre and the Newtown Community Centre, describing the event as “more than a ceremonial act” but rather “a declaration of values.”

Speaking at the official ceremony held in Newtown on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Prime Minister Drew emphasised that the renaming of these institutions—now honouring Nurse Millicent West and Mr. Kennedy Earle Clarke, along with Mr. Lloyd Lazar and Teacher Myrtle Neal for the newly named community centre halls—represents the nation’s ongoing commitment to service, compassion, and community upliftment.

“This morning’s event is quite important. It is not merely that we gather to unveil a name, but to affirm a legacy,” Dr. Drew stated. “The renaming of the health centre and the community centre represents more than a ceremonial act. It is really a declaration of values—a statement about who we are, what we cherish, and how we choose to remember those who laboured for the upliftment of our people.”

Prime Minister Drew reflected on the central role that such institutions play in national life, describing the health centre as “a safeguard for both physical and mental well-being,” and the community centre as a place that “nurtures social bonds, learning, creativity, and resilience.” Together, he noted, they form the “twin pillars of human development—health and human connection.”

“To rename them is to anchor these pillars in memory and meaning,” Dr. Drew said. “A name carries weight. It tells a story. It invites future generations to ask who these persons were, what they stood for, and why they were worthy of remembrance. In that inquiry lies inspiration. In that inspiration lies continuity.”

The prime minister praised the people of Newtown and East Basseterre for their enduring spirit of strength, dignity, and perseverance, noting that “progress is not accidental—it is built through service, sacrifice, and shared responsibility.” He commended the honourees—Nurse West, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Lazar, and Teacher Neal—as shining examples of those values.

“Their lives stand as testimony that one committed citizen, or many committed citizens, can shape the destiny of many,” Dr. Drew remarked. “As we unveil these new names, let this serve as both recognition and reminder of who they were, what they stood for, and how we can continue their legacy in our own acts of service.”

Prime Minister Drew concluded that Tuesday’s ceremony, attended by government officials, community leaders, and family members of the honourees, celebrated not only the achievements of four outstanding citizens but also the values that continue to strengthen and unite the Newtown community.

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