The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) announced this week that it has started completion works on the Davy Hill Community Resource Centre project under the BNTF eight project cycle.
On September 29, 2014 construction of the Community Resource Center, which commenced the previous week and followed with a ground breaking ceremony. The ceremony was marked with the usual groundbreaking ceremonies of prayers and brief remarks, beginning with an outline of the project which was then being funded under the Basic Needs Trust Fund, (BNTF) Sixth project.
In her address at the time, the new Minister of Health, Education and Social Services, the Honourable Delmaude Ryan pledged the PDM government’s support to provide budgetary support annually to ensure the successful operation of the Davy Hill Community Resource Center.
The construction however, ran into difficult times but BNTF Project manager Mervyn Browne explains, The BNTF Implementing Agency (IA) says its forging ahead with the completion of this and other sub-projects before CDBs terminal disbursement date (TDD) on December 31. Browne says work commenced on August 15, and it is anticipated that the project which is being undertaken by Ryan Investments Limited will be completed in the next 12 weeks.
The Honorable Premier Donaldson Romeo in expressing his delight to see the resumption of work on the Davy Hill Community Resource Centre, following the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) approval of the award of a civil works contract for the sub project enhancement in 2014, noted that the main structure of the building was completed by December 2014.
He explained that December 31 that year was the final date for disbursement of funds by CDB for the BNTF sixth cycle under which the sub project was been administered. CDB had to bring the project to a halt. He explained further that in order to continue CDB required a new submission of the sub project to meet its normal approval procedures.
He said about the project,”…not only are people being employed but the people of Davy Hill will have a Centre where young people can go and attend classes, they can have community meetings and … the houses are not hurricane worthy… they now have their own shelter to go to in their own community and I am happy to see that.” He concluded, “…the community is being strengthened and they are having a facility that they will enjoy and use in advance for when their houses will get repaired and built to a standard like anybody else, that’s hurricane worthy, that they will live in comfortably.” I look forward to that.”
In 2014 at the groundbreaking ceremony, Emile Duberry, the Vice President of the Davy Hill Action Group speaking on behalf of the people said, while thanking the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through the BNTF for their technical and administrative support, said “The outcome expected is that the community center is operational and people in the Community are being trained, and that there is more cohesion in the community based on the fact that people are socializing more…”
Duberry had said then, “It will actually serve as a multi-purpose Resource Centre for the sustainable community development of Davy Hill…” that it will “Remove any stigma that is labelled on the Davy Hill community.”
Moreover it was noted, as the Premier said: The aim of the Resource centre is to enhance the skills and learning of residents there of the Davy Hill area.
