Help communities in need

Al-Rawi, also the member of Parliament for San Fernando West, noted that “no one government could handle the problems that exists in society”.

It was while commending the Rotary Club of San Fernando for its outreach in Embacadere, that the AG declared “more of the social groups in Trinidad and Tobago should follow in this path and help the communities that may be in need.” The Rotary Club hosted a day of activities where NGOs and government services, among them YTEPP, Family Planning, the NESC, Scouts and Girl Guides, provided information and demonstrations for the people of Embacadere, San Fernando.

Al-Rawi observed Embacadere was a unique community since both the poorest and richest lived in close proximity to each other.

In this context, businesses too must also help communities in need by providing employment, said the AG, noting the opportunities did not have to be the conventional trade but investment in new areas such as the arts and sports.

Al-Rawi outlined in the case of state employment, even government services are facing challenges as well, as a result of the recession, not 65 percent of the expenditure goes into wages.

He encouraged those attending the exhibition to take advantage of the opportunity the Rotary offered in it mentoring and education programmes.

“Make sure that this kind of service takes effect and allow this volunteerism to bare fruits,” al-Rawi said. He complimented Olympians Keston Bledman and Rheaza Grant who are from Embacadere and attended the function.

Also present was Frederick Thomas the 12-year-old Gasparillo boy, a student of Open Bible High School, who scored a distinction in mathematics in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CESC) examination, becoming one of the youngest students to achieve this success.

Nagen Annamanthodo, of the Rotary Club, outlined some of its outreach programmes which include beautification drives, medical services and free education available on the internet.

“People can come together in a classroom and learn real skills offered on the net free of charge,” he said, announcing this initiative will be undertaken at Embacadere.

Deputy Mayor of San Fernando Junia Regrello also addressed the audience saying the services offered by the Rotary Club will help in preparing people for the job market.