Sir George Alleyne (R) receives Surname's highest award from President Ronald Venetiaan

In a brief ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo, the distinction as ‘Bearer of the Grant Sash in the Honorary Order of the Palm’ was conferred on Alleyne by President Ronald Venetiaan.

In his remarks the Head of State noted the illustrious career and achievements regional and worldwide of the former PAHO director, currently Chairman of the Caribbean Commission on Health Development.

According to Venetiaan, Alleyne has dedicated a great part of his career in medicine and health care and uplifting the standard of public health for the benefit of his people and the overall process of Caribbean development.

One of Alleyne’s major philosophies, ‘The wealth of the Caribbean, is the health of the Caribbean’, became the cornerstone of the CARICOM policy on health and development.

As director of PAHO, Alleyne has dedicated a great part of his life to the health of the Caribbean people and was a tireless advocate of economic growth and development of the pan-American population. Through the years he has contributed to the improvement of the general health situation in Suriname.

Venetiaan mentioned his contribution to the establishment of partnerships with other countries in relation to public health, Alleyne’s support in the fight against malaria, HIV/AIDS, environmental health, child health and management in medical health.

The Surinamese government is looking forward, said the president, to Alleyne’s endeavours in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, and Suriname in particular.

Alleyne said he accepted the award with great honor and also on behalf of all the hundreds of thousands health workers throughout the region. Reflecting on the health situation in Caribbean region, Alleyne noted that, in spite of its shortcomings, “Our region was the first to eliminate poliomyelitis and measles”.

With respect to the HIV/AIDS situation in the Caribbean he stressed that there still is a lot of work to do and “many hurdles to overcome”.

“I am convinced that we in the Caribbean in the not too distant future we will see the height of the mountain of HIV/AIDS reduced,” said Alleyne.

In 2001, Alleyne was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community, the highest honour that can be conferred on a Caribbean national.