Bottle and Glass community gets new washroom facility

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines officially opened a new Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) funded Washroom facility at Bottle and Glass Barrouallie last Thursday, January18.

Dunstan Johnson, Director of the BNTF

Hon. Luke Browne, Minister of Health

The Washroom facility, which has toilet, shower and laundry amenities, is expected to eliminate an existing problem of poor sanitation which existed in the community for a long time.

Sir Louis Straker, Deputy Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative of Central Leeward

Addressing the opening ceremony, Director of the BNTF Dunstan Johnson said that for the past 30 years, the BNTF programs have made tremendous positive impact on the lives of persons who are vulnerable with the construction of similar projects. Johnson added that the opening of the washroom facility supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal number seven which addresses improved sustainable environment by the year 2020.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment Luke Browne, addressing the opening ceremony, said that the people of Bottle Glass have had many challenges with respect to water and sanitation issues and that the matter had public health and safety implications.

The ribbon being cut by a resident of the area in the presence of Ministers of Government Frederick Stepenson and St Clair Prince (first and second from left respectively), Sir Louis Straker – parliamentary representative for Central Leeward (second from right) and architect Moulton Mayers (extreme right)

The Health Minister said that his Ministry was heavily involved in the project mainly through its public health department, as Environmental Officers conducted several educational sessions and consultations in the community. Minister Browne encouraged the community members to adopt the practices they have been exposed to in the training sessions as “behavioral modification is very important.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative of Central Leeward Sir Louis Straker said that the Facility is impressive and one of the best in the country. Minister Straker added that though the facility is free, it is not cheap having been completed at a cost of EC$ 1 million. The Parliamentary Representative told the residents that it is not the only thing his Government has done to uplift the Community, pointing out that a footpath not too far from where the ceremony was being held, was recently built. In addition, Minster Straker announced that Government will break ground later this year for a Black Fish Facility, a ten million dollar investment in their Bottle and Glass Community.(API)