By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Sir Samuel Aymer, who was recently bestowed with the Knight Grand Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (KCN), has called on Antiguans and Barbudans to “earnestly join the battle against fear, hate and poverty,” echoing sentiments from the national anthem.
During an interview on Observer AM, Sir Samuel reflected on receiving one of the nation’s highest honours, awarded for his distinguished service in national development and healthcare advancement.
“I went through like a kaleidoscope of emotions, my initial feeling was one of pleasure and delight, but deeply humbling,” he shared.
Sir Samuel said his journey in public service was influenced by various mentors and institutions, including his parents, the St John’s Boys School, his teacher Mr Charles Henry, and his Methodist faith.
His commitment to service was guided by a quotation he learned in his youth: “I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now … for I shall not pass this way again.”
A career marked by dedicated public service began when Sir Samuel became the country’s first Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister in 1995, where he fostered inter-ministerial cooperation through monthly Permanent Secretary meetings and coordinated crucial recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Luis.
When asked about potential different career paths, Sir Samuel remained steadfast in his commitment to public service.
“Whatever I might have done would all have been involved in public policy,” he noted, highlighting his background as a social scientist and his passion for developmental work.
He added that his connection to issues surrounding healthcare in the region was embedded through his maternal grandmother who was a nurse in Dominica before his family relocated to Antigua around 1933.
Sir Samuel reflected on his appointment as Minister for Health and Civil Service Affairs, where he cited as among his proudest achievements was the establishment the first renal dialysis unit at the Holberton Hospital.
“It was a difficult but rewarding assignment,” he recalled, describing how he travelled to London, Jamaica, and Barbados to gather expertise and secure funding for the project.
Another significant accomplishment was his successful negotiation of a £6.5 million grant from the British government for primary healthcare development.
This funding, he said, enabled the construction of four polyclinics, in Clare Hall, Browne’s Avenue, All Saints, and Pigotts, thereby transforming healthcare delivery from rented houses to purpose-built facilities.
