[Barbados] More help in poverty fight

from The Nation News

CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL organisations in Barbados and abroad, are joining in the drive to achieve this country's millennium development goals.

And yesterday, Government's special advisor on Poverty Eradication, Hamilton Lashley, met with them at United Nations House, Marine Gardens, Christ Church, to launch the programme here.

In his address, Lashley disclosed that his office had established strategic alliances with non-governmental organisations to achieve the millennium development goals.

The former Minister of Social Transformation said volunteer efforts in Barbados were estimated to be over $14 million.

Among the organisations and business houses pledging their support were the book ship Logos II, the Barbados National Bank, Super Centre, B&B Distribution, Berger Paints, Hanschell Inniss, Operation Mobilisation and the island's churches.

Speaking on behalf of Logos II, Project Co-ordinator, Tetyana Anastasyeva, told the gathering that from June 22 to July 22, 60 crew members who will remain on the island following the visit of the ship, would reach out to those members of the population that were in need of assistance by carrying out various projects, including house painting, house cleaning and debushing, cooking and counselling.

It is anticipated that crew members of the ship would also work with other groups to carry out repairs to 60 houses across the island.

Barbados' director of Operation Mobilisation, Carol Phillips, recalled that her organisation was one of the first groups to offer assistance to Grenada following the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

She further recalled that Operation Mobilisation, a non-profit Christian organisation, fed over 2 000 families in Grenada.

According to Phillips, the Grazettes-based organisation usually joined with other Christian organisations to transform the lives of people.

Marketing assistant at Berger Paints Barbados Ltd., Karen Grant, donated a sum of money to the programme and also promised to supply cans of paint for the house repairs.

Entertainment for the event was provided by students of the Arthur Smith Primary School.

The dramatic presentations were under the direction of Troy Arthur.