New Village gets new community centre

Two major South-based  companies, Atlantic LNG and Bechtel, along with the Point Fortin Borough Corporation and the Ministry of Com-munity Development, Cul-ture and Gender Affairs, pooled resources together to deliver a new community centre to the residents of New Village in Point Fortin. Senator Joan Yuille-Williams, Minister of Com-munity Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, gave the feature address at the formal opening last month. She advised residents to do all in their power to promote community programmes which she said would respond to their economic and social needs. The minister also urged the council to ensure equality of access to the diverse groups who would seek to use the facilities. Yuille-Williams lauded the contributions of Bechtel and Atlantic LNG, stating that their involvement and presence at the opening were an indication of what can be achieved when people get together for the well-being of a community.

Point Fortin Mayor St Clair Natta shared the minister’s sentiments about the companies, commending them for their assistance in having the centre built. “He added that Point Fortin was extremely fortunate to have “wonderful corporate citizens in our midst.” After an initial award of $60,000, Atlantic LNG and Bechtel contributed $160,000, made up of grants, materials and contractor services, to support the construction of the centre. At the function, the companies were represented by Esther Le Gendre, manager, government and public affairs at Atlantic LNG, and Tom Hill, Bechtel site manager. Hill told the residents, “The big success in this project is you, the community who built the centre. Your heart and soul are in it. You should take pride in what you have done.” The new centre will be used to hold adult education classes and as a meeting place for various clubs and groups in the area.