Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Hon. Stephen Lashley presented constituency member Neville Lewis with a plaque for his contribution to politics for the constituency over the years.
Lashley speaks on empowerment
Rather than continue an old and outdated practice of seeking to provide support by means that are not sustainable, the Democratic Labour Party believe that they should provide the kind of empowerment that enables the constituents in Christ Church West Central to help themselves.
These comments were made by Constituency Representative for Christ Church West Central and Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth, Honourable Stephen Lashley at the ninth annual Valentine’s luncheon, held at the Almond Bay in Hastings, Christ Church on Sunday.
The Minister said when he entered public life that his mission was to provide a new type of politics which would be based on empowering people and that it has transformed the lives of many.
“I believe our economy, our country has to be refocused along the pathway of sustainability and therefore it will call for a drastic change not only in how government functions; it will call for a drastic change in relation to how every person in Barbados sees their role in the transformation of Barbados,” said Lashley.
On the topic of transformation, earlier in his remarks, he expressed his appreciation to the companies Emera, Barbados Light & Power Company and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust for sponsoring the refurbishing of the hard court and play park in Silver Hill, respectively.
The Minister explained that the Silver Hill development plan called for a complete refurbishment of the hard court which will be used for basketball, road tennis and netball.
Lashley added that there will be plans to create a multi-purpose centre which will be built with the financial assistance of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust. When completed, this Youth Empowerment Centre, will be managed by his ministry. It will facilitate youth development sessions; a computer centre, satellites office for welfare department and constituency council, changing rooms for those using the hard court and two store spaces made available to members of the community.
“We expect that those services will be barbering services or hairdressing services or selling of specified items. We are going to using that as a model for developing entrepreneurial talent in the constituency,” said Lashley.