Last Updated on March 21, 2024, 12:53 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Caribbean: Gurdip Dev Bath, a special representative of St Kitts and Nevis is well known in the Caribbean for turning around the fortunes of the Federation in terms of international relations. In the recent past as St Kitts and Nevis and CARICOM were among the countries in the world to receive COVID-19 vaccinations even before Canada and Europe.
He was initially appointed as the special representative with a responsibility to bring foreign direct investment into the country in 2013 by then Prime Minister Dr Denzil L. Douglas. With his capabilities, he was well-praised by many intellectuals for assisting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in obtaining 15 additional visa-free agreements with different countries around the world.
From briefly assisting the charioteer of Foreign Affairs since his inclusion in the government in 2013, Gurdip Dev Bath has assisted the country in achieving long-running goals.
Due to his strong diplomatic relations with the Indian government, he managed to get a donation of over 175,000 jabs of COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of India for not only St Kitts and Nevis but also for other sister islands, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Republic of Suriname etc. by cutting the queue of 92 other countries which were seeking vaccines including Europe and Canada.
Bath has a long history of donations and efforts to ensure the safety and security of the Caribbean, as during the period of the pandemic, he successfully managed the handling of COVID-19 vaccines for almost all CARICOM countries.
According to Abdias Samuel,Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Eyeing economic conditions of the government, Gurdip Dev Bath played an instrumental role in coordinating the procurement, packaging, shipping and clearing of 40ft dry food containers to assist the national response to COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021.
The dry food containers were donated by Pacious Pte Ltd through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which included: food items included pasta, rice, canned baked beans, canned tuna, mayonnaise, cereal, macaroni and cheese, among other essential products. The donation made the government of St Kitts and Nevis well-equipped to help thousands of vulnerable people who suffered losses due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Dev Bath is no stranger to giving as he continuously provided cheers on the faces of people in St Kitts and Nevis. Quick after procuring dry food containers in October, Bath, along with his associates, donated turkeys and hams through his benevolent gesture for citizens to celebrate Christmas, which were distributed to thousands of persons in St Kitts and Nevis by NEMA.
His efforts saved several lives that could have been lost due to the COVID pandemic in St Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean. He played an instrumental role at a time when vaccines were the critical determinant in the battle against the pandemic. Amidst a period marked by scarcity, his steps significantly boosted St Kitts and Nevis’ vaccination drive.
Due to his contribution, he was also honoured with the title ” President of Barbados Sandra Mason on 26 June, 2023. The title was given in recognition of the role played by Dev Bath in arranging the transportation of one lakh AstraZeneca vaccines from India to Barbados in February 2021.
Those people who know him have said that he inspires everyone he meets and is among the most compassionate people in the country with a generous spirit and warm belonging. His role in the government or providing assistance to the newly elected Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew is unquestionable after looking at his efforts during the testing times. Undoubtedly, many Caribbean countries are looking for such persons who can primarily assist during unprecedented periods.
The contribution of Dev Bath was well recognized by the local citizens of St Kitts and Nevis who appreciated his efforts in helping the community. Many asserted that the COVID period was quite frightening as people were losing their loved ones and Dev Bath turned out to be great hope for them.
One local citizen Chrisann Baptiste said,” Gurdip Dev Bath has saved lives which is the purest deed in this world and we need more people who could give hope to the helpless people. The donations that have been made by him have set an example of doing great social works.”
Riel Ronaldo also appreciated the generous spirit of Dev Bath and said, ”People like him always think about the betterment of the society and the contribution he is making for St Kitts and Nevis is exceptional.”
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
