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Contact:
Chris Satney
Tuesday, July 4, 2006 – The island's Minister for Social Transformation,
Culture and Local Government has made an appeal for citizens to treat public
facilities with better care and respect.
Honourable Menissa Rambally was at the time giving her support to a Disaster
Management Bill which went before Parliament on Tuesday 27th June 2006.
Miss Rambally encouraged the public to treat government property as they would
their own possessions. She said those same facilities that are being abused play
a vital role in the society, especially during and in the aftermath of a
disaster.
“We have the perception or the notion in our society that these public
facilities are 'bagay gouvedman,' and this thinking takes away the
responsibility from the community. So you find that in some communities it is OK
to break down the windows and doors of community centres, because sometimes we
do not recognise the importance of these public facilities,” said Minister
Rambally.
The minister also highlighted the fact that many in the Saint Lucian society
show appreciation for and do their part to ensure public facilities are
protected from the destructive hands of the irresponsible few. “I still believe
that within our society there is that spirit of collaboration, there is that
spirit of wanting to support and assist each other. And if within some
communities that spirit is being lost then we need to dig down and find it,
because it is necessary for community building and it is necessary for
protection of our society,” said the Social Transformation Minister.
The Disaster Management Act, which the minister was at the time giving her
support to, re-establishes the National Emergency Management Organization NEMO
and makes it the authentic voice on natural disasters on the island.
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