A benefit concert was held last Friday to raise funds to assist injured student Lonnie Robinson of Peniston, but hours prior to the staging of the concert persons working behind the scenes quickly made announcements that assistance had already been offered. {{more}}

Robinson is being assisted by the Rotary Club of St.Vincent South, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of Health Dr. Douglas Slater, paediatrician Dr. Bharati Datta, and Florentino Batista, Cuba’s Vision Now Co-ordinator.

Robinson who is in need of urgent critical reconstructive surgery will be given the opportunity to receive surgery at the International Hospital for Children (IHC) on March 13, 2006.

A press release from the Rotary Club of St. Vincent South stated that patients who are the beneficiaries of medical procedures at the IHC in Virginia are only required to provide their travel expenses as all other costs are covered by the IHC in Virginia.

Dr. Slater told SEARCHLIGHT that he personally wrote a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves highlighting Robinson’s situation and the Prime Minister on his last mission to Cuba discussed the matter with Cuba’s president Fidel Castro who gave his personal commitment to allow Robinson to receive treatment in Cuba as well.