A dancer performs at the Emancipation Celebrations of the Ministry of Community Development on Wednesday

Photo by Aleem Khan

A total of five hundred and twenty nine persons graduated from the Community Education Programme (CEP) which is a Skills Enhancement Programme hosted by the Ministry of Community Development annually. On Saturday July 24, 2010 the Assembly Hall of the Arima Government Primary school was packed to capacity with graduates, their relatives, well wishers and officials and staff of the Ministry of Community Development to witness the achievements and milestones of participants at a Graduation exercise for CEP group from the St George East District area.

The objective of the CEP programme is to expose citizens to skills training development activities and information to enhance their life chances and consists of four (4) components

- Domestic Support Projects/Skills Training;
- Entrepreneurial Development Projects;
- Leadership and Management Training Courses; and
- Community Awareness and Sensitization Programmes

The Meteorological Service has advised that over the next eight to twelve hours, Trinidad and Tobago will experience heavy showers and thunder showers. There is the possibility of street/flash flooding, along with gusty winds of 50 kilometres per hour or above in areas of the heavy showers/thunder showers.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, as the co-ordinating and management agency, has alerted fist responder agencies and remains in contact with them should there be any need to render immediate assistance.

The Met Office continues to reiterate that Trinidad and Tobago is now actively into the hurricane season and all citizens must take the necessary steps to safeguard life, property and other valuables. Here are some tips:

• Stay calm, be extra vigilant and cautious
• Secure valuables and ensure all important documents are in waterproof containers or bags
• Secure all pets and livestock
• Do not walk through flood waters unless absolutely necessary
• Do not drive in flooded areas
• Be aware of possible landslides

Please note that Trinidad and Tobago is NOT under any Tropical Storm threat, Watch or Warning.

For further information, citizens can visit www.odpm.gov.tt or call 640-1285.

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CREDITS: Information provided by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management.
Photo by mamomof5

The growing community of Waterloo in Central Trinidad will soon have access to a state of the art Community Complex, to be formally opened by Minister of Community Development, the Honourable Nizam Baksh in the coming month. Among the amenities that residents will benefit from are:

- an auditorium

- training kitchen

- activity/class room,

- computer rooms with internet access

- restrooms for the physically challenged

- community gym

- office and a ceiling-mounted public address system

With an expanding population of which approximately 55 percent are female, Waterloo is located just off the Uriah Butler Highway about one kilometre south of the Chase Village Flyover. Waterloo comprises several distinct villages that extend from the Waterloo Main Road including Brickfield, Ojah Maharaj Avenue, Buttler Village and Coconut Village.

Residents of this community are employed in a range of professions, from handymen to engineers, from teachers to law enforcement officials. It is estimated that over 95 percent of the men are employed. The Village Council also estimates that 50 percent of the women are homemakers, which means about half of the female population are employed outside the home.

Surrounding the Waterloo Main Road is an Anglican cemetery, a Muslim burial ground, the cremation site and the Temple in the Sea at the end of the pier. The temple was built by Hindu labourer, Siewdass Sadhu in 1947, but not finished until 1994 when the 150th Indian Arrival Day celebration inspired the Government to complete the project.

The opening of this new community centre is expected to bring many benefits to Waterloo and surrounding areas. It forms part of the Ministry’s plans to open five new community facilities in south and central Trinidad over the next month.

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CREDITS: Information sourced from the report of the Waterloo Village Council, Community Development Division.
Photo by the Ministry’s Project Unit.

A new, modern community centre will soon be officially opened in Preysal, Central Trinidad by the Minister of Community Development, the Honourable Nizam Baksh (at centre photo at left).

Once opened, residents of the area will have access to all of its facilities which include:

- an auditorium,

- stage,

- computer rooms with internet access,

- activity/class room,

- restrooms for the physically challenged,

- training kitchen,

- community gym;

- and an office.

It will also be fitted with appropriate Fire Safety Systems.

The village of Preysal, located four miles east of Couva and twelve miles north of San Fernando, was once predominantly an agricultural community with most elderly residents employed with the sugar industry. However, today the population (of more than 4,000) is more academically inclined, holding jobs as teachers, civil servants, businessmen, etc.

Almost 25 percent of the population are between 45 to 60 years.

Preysal has also produced some top sportsmen including West Indies vice-captain and wicketkeeper, Denesh Ramdin, fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and former national cricketer Theo Cuffy.

The main schools in the area are the Preysal Government Primary and the Preysal High School.

The opening of the new community centre in Preysal is one of a group of five such facilities in central and south Trinidad to be commissioned by the Ministry of Community Development next month and beyond.