Las Lomas to get new community centre

Las Lomas #2 and several of the surrounding communities will have a new community centre in one year's time. Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly, La Horquetta/Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie and Urban Development Corporation of TT chairman Noel Garcia (Udecott) officially turned the sod for the construction of the new centre on the site of the old centre in Las Lomas #2 yesterday. The cost of the project is approximately $9.7 million. After the ceremony, Garcia told Newsday the centre is one of 12 which Udecott is undertaking works on. He said three centres have been opened to date and Udecott hopes to complete the remainder in fiscal 2018.

Cuffie, who is also Public Administration and Communications Minister, said the need for a community centre was brought to his attention early during the 2015 general election campaign. He said he was pleased that the project is under way. Cuffie updated the assembled residents on other works taking place in the constituency. He said Government is doing its best to ensure there is equitable distribution of works across the constituency.

Gadsby Dolly agreed with Cuffie about the need for a new community centre in Las Lomas#2. She told the gathering the provision and upgrade of such centres is one of the key activities at her ministry. Gadsby Dolly appealed to residents for patience in the construction of the centre. She was confident the centre would be built within time and within budget.

The new centre will cover 9,400 square feet of land. The facility will have at training kitchen for the culinary arts and science, administrative offices, classrooms, an audio visual room, gym, computer lab, male/female dressing rooms, an auditorium to accommodate 200 people, a stage, access for differently-abled people and air-conditioning.