New community centre opens in Couva

Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe opened the Lisas Gardens community centre in Couva on Tuesday.

The $13 million state-of-the-art facility, which includes a gym, ICT access centre, a laundry room and other features, is at the Lisas Boulevard East. Construction began in November 2019, but there were delays owing to the covid19 pandemic.

Cudjoe delivered the feature address, saying community centres represent "our hopes and dreams of our country."

She said the decisions made by the Government are for the benefit of all citizens.

The opening is part of the ministry's ongoing Community Centres Construction and Refurbishment Programme.

Secretary of the Lisas Gardens Welfare Council Vanda Lively Hospedales shared historical information about the community. In the late 1990s, a concrete community centre was built on Balisier Street, she recalled.

She said in keeping with the council's mandate – Together as one people, uplifting our community – residents of Lisas Gardens are proud of this "beautiful" facility.

She believes it would help diversify the people, enabling them to have more training programmes to develop further the skills and entrepreneurship of the residents of Lisas Gardens.

"We still look forward, madam minister, to acquiring a multi-purpose sporting facility in the community," she said. "This can facilitate further recreation and fulfil some level of needs of the children, youths and the elderly. The covid19 pandemic has directly impacted their livelihood."

Minister of Digital Transformation Hassel Bacchus, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh, councillor for California/Point Lisas Ramchand Rajbal Maraj and former labour minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus also attended.

Hospedales added, "We also look forward to the continued support of our Minister of Youth Development and National Services, who is a resident of this community, and our former minister of labour and small enterprise, who is also a resident."

Indarsingh. who also spoke, expressed concern about the high crime levels in the community. He also said many constituents are unemployed.

The opposition MP also raised concerns about the land of the previous community centre at Balisier Street. He said he had been given reports about state lands "ending up in the control of certain individuals and business enterprises."

Cudjoe responded that anyone with such information should report it to the people. She reiterated that all government decisions are in the best interest of all citizens.

The ministry honoured several people, including calypsonian Terri Lyons and footballer Nicholas Dillon, for their contributions to the country.