Volunteer spirit ‘should be part of community’ |26 June 2010

Minister Meriton and his delegation visiting some of the projects in the Au Cap district yesterday

The Minister for Community Development, Youth, Sports and Culture was speaking after inspecting nine community projects at Au Cap.

He was accompanied on his site visit by district administrator Muriel Marie and other officers from his ministry.

Before starting his visit, Mr Meriton met representatives of the district’s social groups such as the senior citizens, family support, disabled, youths and emergency brigade to listen to their concerns. He also learned about the activities they have organised to bring the community together.

Among the project sites he visited were a new daycare centre, which cost the government R1.3 million and will be completed in mid-July; two access roads at Jerusalem; a group of four flats at Gaza; a bus shelter at La Plaine St André; a playing field behind Au Cap primary school; and steps and a drainage system at the Green Estate.

Mr Meriton also talked to some of the residents who are already using these new facilities.
He said Au Cap is a good example of “a community coming together and carrying out different projects in partnership with the government”.

One purpose of the various social groups is to promote the spirit of volunteerism in the community, he added.
Mr Meriton described the ongoing work as satisfactory and said the various projects meet the individual needs of the most vulnerable residents.

He said it is important to ensure that the R800,000 allocated for community projects in each district is spent wisely, and that the projects are of good quality.

Mrs Marie said most of the projects were carried out after requests made by the district’s residents during the consultative meeting with President James Michel last year.