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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Monday, April 28, 2003 - The residents of New Village in Richfond,
Dennery are enjoying a higher standard of living and quality of life. The
residents credit two community projects, undertaken by the Poverty Reduction
Fund (PRF), as having brought about immense improvement to their community.
The two projects are a water system expansion project funded by the World Bank
and a footpath and drains project, funded by the European Union. Desmond John, a
member of the community and chairman of the Community Project Committee, says
the new facilities create a striking difference to what existed before.
John explained “There is a ravine in the back and that is where the New Village
people used to bathe, wash and sometimes drink water. And what was more hurtful,
was to see the number of cattle which were tied higher up. Not only cattle, but
that gulley or ravine used to pass through a banana plantation, where all sort s
of pesticides and weedicides were used.”
Honourable Menissa Rambally, Minister for Social Transformation, Culture and
Local Government under whose portfolio the Poverty Reduction Fund falls, spoke
highly of the input of the residents in realising the two projects and advised
them to use this example of community work as the impetus to do more themselves.
“As you create a better environment for yourselves in your community, you can
see the quality of your life changing, the nature of community life changing and
you can begin to realize benefits for the people of your community and for your
families,” said Rambally.
Donovan Williams, Executive Director of the PRF, commended the standard of
workmanship which was put into the Footpath and Drains project. The two projects
cost approximately $170,000.00.
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