Davy Hill Community Sidewalk and Pedestrian Disaster Risk Reduction Project was born out of funding from the British Red Cross to carry out Phase II and III of the Disaster Risk Management programme that started in the year 2011.
Consultations for this particular project out of a master project called ‘Davy Hill Community Safer Roads Project’ began in 2015 and soil turned to mark the beginning of its construction on May 28, 2018.
The project which began at $65,000 with the BRC Montserrat Branch sponsorship having brought on board community members via various means through a process known as Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment otherwise known as VCA. Then the Public Works Department and the Physical Planning Unit from the respective Ministries and later when with their involvement and required changes, the involvement of the Government’s Volcano Relief Fund to support a project of an eventual total cost of $150,424.26.
At the handover to the community via the Davy Hill Community Action Group, the ceremony chaired by their president Mrs. Anne Thomas, Miss Bettrice Jones, MRC’s Programmes and Projects Officer, now Ag. Director, after invoking a moments silence for the recent passing of former Director Richard Aspin last month, explained: “Due to changes in the drawings and the scope of the project to ensure that all aspects of safety was taken into consideration in respect to the structure’s durability and strength to last for years and years; the cost increase from the earlier projected amount and additional funding was required.”
She explained further, “Therefore, the community Action group Vice president with the Red Cross entered into discussions with the Honorable House Speaker to seek funding from the Volcano relief fund,” and that hopefully by July this year MRC will receive a reimbursement of monies “advanced from other projects for the completion of this project.”
The ceremony involved opening prayers by Pastor Kellar McFarlane of the Davy Hill Wesleyan Holiness Church; Welcome by Anne Thomas, President Davy Hill Community Action Group (DHCAG); Project Background by Bettrice Jones, Director (Ag)~Montserrat Branch of the British Red Cross; followed by brief remarks from the following: Speaker of the House~Honorable Shirely Osborne ( Volcano Relief Fund); Minister of Communication, Works and Labour ~ Honorable Paul Lewis, Royal Montserrat Police Service: Steve Foster ~Commissioner of Police,Physical Planning Unit: Jerome Meade~ Chief Physical Planner, and Davy Hill Community, Emile Duberry ~Vice President Davy Hill Community Action Group. A vote of thanks followed by celebratory refreshments, was delivered by DHCAG past president Teona Christopher.
In her background delivery in which she offered thanks on behalf of MRC to the several other agencies and persons who contributed to the project’s delivery, Miss Jones spoke to the resilience goals for the island. “Most importantly,” she said, “Please note that this ceremony does not end our relationship with Davy Hill but only forge a bond we will forever have with you. We will continue our work in Disaster Risk Management in this community and others, and hope that we can continue to grow together in making sure the resilience of Montserrat is increased.”
“Overall, the Montserrat Red Cross has as its aim, in the reduction of disasters to do such in and around the island by working from the community, level and collaborating with the various agencies on island thus making sure the island and its people are safe and reassured,” she added.
Meanwhile in his comments on behalf of the Davy Hill Community, Vice president Emile Duberry took the opportunity to call on all Montserrat to unite and work together. “We have to ensure that we come together, he said.
“We must come together to build this country. We cannot be apart and just have one set of people every time doing the work. Everywhere you it’s just one set of people doing the work; in community groups, in church groups you know, in all the groups,” imploring: “So I’m begging, I’m asking people of Montserrat, please let us come together to build our country via our communities.”
