At last, the refurbished Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay was handed over to the community on February 27, 2023. Photo: VINO

PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the United Kingdom overseas territories of Anguilla, [British] Virgin Islands and Montserrat, as well as the French departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana, Dr Amalia Del Riego Abreu, right, does the symbolic handover of the community centre to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7). Photo: Facebook

The facility, along with many other community centres in the territory, was damaged in the September 2017 hurricanes.

Funding for the rehabilitation of the community centre was provided by the European Union (EU) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) provided the technical oversight for implementing the project.

The contract for the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay was awarded to Tarris Hill and Associates, and works commenced on January 12, 2021.

‘A dedicated space’

At the handover and dedication ceremony, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the event means that the Sea Cows Bay Community regains the use of their community meeting space.

“They once again have a dedicated space for continued and enhanced volunteer opportunities; a dedicated space to meet, plan and execute community projects. They once again have a dedicated space to continue initiatives that positively impact the youths in the community; a dedicated space to continue to encourage and promote creativity and culture, and to share valuable and important information. By having this community centre restored, after school programmes and other youth development programmes and now be revived,” Dr Wheatley stated.

The Premier encouraged the residents of Sea Cows Bay and environs to make maximum use of their community centre.

“Use it to build and strengthen your community and your community spirit. I also ask that as you put the facility to use, you help us to take care of it; this is your asset.

“The Government will do our part to keep it maintained, but we are relying on you to ensure that it is used in a responsible way, and that it is not subject to any unnecessary damage or ill-treatment,” Dr Wheatley said.

Among those in attendance were PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the United Kingdom overseas territories of Anguilla, [British] Virgin Islands and Montserrat, as well as the French departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana, Dr Amalia Del Riego Abreu; Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA.

Meanwhile, the refurbished Gertrude and Christiana Warner Community Centre in Purcell Estate was also dedicated and handed over on Monday, February 27, 2023.