BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
SOLOMON Islands Government has been donated with an ambulance in its fight against Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Donating the ambulance is private business company ‘LCSM Enterprises Ltd’, as part of its contribution towards responding to the call by the national government seeking for assistance from private companies in the country to assist in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak faced in the country.
LCSM Enterprises Ltd when donating the ambulance to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) was then directed to donate the assistance to Guadalcanal Province, an event which took place yesterday because of the critical need which exist for an ambulance at this Covid-19 situation in the country.
Speaking to Sunday Isles, LCSM Enterprises Ltd Director and owner Mr Chandana Suresh, said the country is struggling at this time in this Covid-19 outbreak so with the understanding the critical need for an ambulance, he sees that it is their social responsibility to atleast contribute to the Government efforts to fight against Covid-19.
“We understand the critical need , therefore we came up with the idea to help the government and people of Solomon Islands with the ambulance, which is an immediate need inorder to save lives,” said Suresh.
“The ambulance was presented to MHMS and the ministry directed us to donate it to Guadalcanal Province that really needed an ambulance at the moment. The ambulance came through from my brother working at Japan and it is fully equipped for service. We handed over the ambulance to the Premier of Guadalcanal yesterday.
“During the handing over, the Guadalcanal health authority stated that they really need an ambulance to bring sick patients to Honiara. Sometimes when they do not have transport, people die as a result. So it is really a need for them therefore they are ones the ministry directed us to handover the ambulance to them.”
Mr Suresh elaborated that it was his first time to arrange such donation and he is very happy to assist.
“It is a first time for me, I am very happy, along with my family, we are very happy to make this donation to the people of Solomon Islands as we highly respect and care for them. Only the language and skin colour is different but we have the same blood,” said Suresh.
“I respect the laws of this country and I will stand ready and willing to assist the government and country when the need arises.
“This donation will not be the last as we have to work together in developing this country as well.”
Mr Suresh further explained that they are operating business in Solomon Islands, therefore if they do business and get profit, they do not send all the profit back to their country but contribute to the country they are doing business in as well.
“Because we live here and so we have to contribute to the country we do business in. You gave us the business. If we are to give away $100 to our country at Sri Lanka then at least $40 to $50 will also be given to this country,” explained Suresh.
Setting precedence, the LCSM Enterprises Ltd Director reminds other business companies especially ‘foreign owned’ that come and do business and invest in the country that it is the only right to do, that is to help develop it as well.
“If the country develops, our business will also develop and more businesses will be set up here. We have to help develop the country, its infrastructure and people resulting in the country growing. From this, our businesses will grow as well,” said Suresh.
“And to other business houses too, please contribute and assist the government through these critical times. We cannot expect the government to do everything. They have limitations therefore private companies have a responsibility to do something for this country because it is this people who give us our business.
“we are setting an example and we are call on all businesses to come together and assist in such.”
It is understood that during the handing over ceremony yesterday, the Guadalcanal Province Director of Nursing, Moses Karuni, expressed that they have lost some people’s lives because they could not be transported on time by ambulance to either the National Referral Hospital (NRH) or Hospital at Good Samaritan.
Guadalcanal Province Premier Francis Sade in explaining the challenges his province faces in the current Covid-19 outbreak made it known that his province needs four ambulances to be stationed in strategic locations around its island.
Chandana Suresh is the owner and Director of LCSM Enterprises Limited – being his ‘mother company’. Under his main company are ‘LCSM Auto Mobile’ that deals with car sale, ‘LC Fitness Centre’ dealing with ‘gym’ and LCSM Entertainment dealing with ‘sounds system’. Mr Suresh office is located at Lungga.
The ambulance donated is made possible through Mr Suresh brother, ‘Mr Prasantha’ from LG Holdings Ltd in Japan.
Featured Photo Caption: Mr Chandana Suresh when handing over the keys of the Ambulance vehicle to Guadalcanal Province officials which includes the Premier, Francis Sade. PHOTO SUPPLIED
