125 families get $1.6m in self-help grants

One hundred and twenty-five Tobago families received an estimated $1,670,000,000 in funding from the National Self-Help Commission Ltd (NSHCL) to do repairs to their homes.

The funds, allocated through the Minor Repairs Reconstruction Grant and the Emergency Repairs Reconstruction Grant, were distributed on Monday at the THA Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour in Glen Road, Scarborough.

CEO of NSHCL Elroy Julien said notwithstanding the challenges, the commission is sharing something beautiful – an opportunity to improve lives.

“As we improve the infrastructure in communities, as we improve homes for families, we are improving the quality of their lives. We have been confronting challenges as we seek to deliver on our mandate and at the same time ensuring that no one is left behind, including Tobago.

“As an organisation, we are charged with providing support such that we can positively impact our population. In doing so, the National Commission for Self Help Ltd reminds you, as Helen Keller said, ‘The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings as it makes us patient and sensitive. It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming of it.’ Indeed, our grant recipients are overcomers,” he said.

He recalled at a previous distribution, the commitment was given that Tobago would be dealt with equitably in the allocation of the commission’s budget, and this distribution was a promise fulfilled.

“We are in the service of helping communities, allowing for improvement in their environment and the living conditions of our citizens. We look forward to greater community solidarity through the co-operation and collaboration we have been noticing among community members,” he said.

He added: “To our grant recipients, we encourage you to make the best use of that which has been allocated to you.”

After the distribution, Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe and chairman Anthony Campbell turned the sod to start the construction of the Grande Gully Bridge in Goodwood where a prefabricated 36-foot single lane bridge will be installed. They were accompanied by CEO Julien, Tobago project officer Julien Celestine and THA Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment (DIQE) Kwesi Des Vignes.