The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS from the Bain and Grants Town community are said to be excited after a centre hailed as the “restoration of the confidence, integrity, discipline and identity of a great community” opened earlier this week.

The Bain & Grants Town Community Empowerment Centre is described as a “complete youth and family oriented” centre created to offer opportunities for further growth and development of the area’s youth.

Founder Brenda Harris, speaking on the steps of the building at the intersection of Hospital Lane and Wellington Street, explained that organisers wanted to transform the area into one where residents could reach their full potential by actively contributing to the country’s development.

She added that the motivation of the centre is to elevate, equip, motivate, encourage and empower the residents of the inner-city community to excel socially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually by enhancing themselves through civic, cultural, educational and recreational services.

According to Ms Harris, a certified public accountant, the centre will provide education, training, information and support on self-respect and opportunities to take part in community and national affairs.

“All of the young people, the families, the elderly people in the area, what they will benefit from this is self-empowerment, self-development,” said Ms Harris.

“We want the community to partner with us, if you can only volunteer an hour (per) day, we welcome you to partner with us as we come together to forge our gifts and our talents and our resources to change a great nation, to change a great community.”

Bain and Grants Town MP Dr Bernard J Nottage called the establishment of the centre “very important” for the future of the community.

“There is an extensive need for people who have an interest in helping us to develop a safe, educated community. We are so very glad that Ms Harris has taken on this task voluntarily and we will give her as much help as we can,” he said.

Dr Nottage, who is minister of national security, assured residents that he has committed himself to assisting with the venture as best he could and would be encouraging others to do the same.

The centre’s programme features a range of disciplines in which residents will be able to take part. Ms Harris indicated that residents as young as four would be able to take part.