People’s Republic of China donates to NAB’s Lancaster House

The National Assistance Board’s (NAB) Lancaster House received a timely donation from the People’s Republic of China yesterday.

 

Her Excellency Ms Wang Ke, Chinese Ambassador to Barbados presented a cheque in the amount of $35,000 towards the refurbishment of the facility which since August, 2015 has provided temporary accommodation to the elderly in particular, but other persons and families who have been dislocated as a result of events such as fire, floods or other disasters.

 

During the presentation ceremony, Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, the Hon. Steven Blackett shared that clients at Lancaster House can expect a holistic approach to the services which they are offered.

 

“Hence, the focus will not only be on providing temporary accommodation but through social work intervention, clients will be provided with counselling and the coordination of services to facilitate their resumption of independent community living in the shortest possible time.”

 

Minister Blackett therefore assured the Ambassador that the donation will be instrumental in the ongoing upgrades and will ensure that families are comfortable as they pursue their options of securing alternative accommodation in the community.

 

“While Lancaster House has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of three families, given the outstanding upgrades which are needed to the structure, over the past year only one family could have been housed at any given time. As a Ministry which promotes the well-being of persons, the provision of accommodation has to be balanced with the obligation to create an environment where clients are provided with an acceptable standard of living,” he expressed.

 

Ambassador Wang Ke acknowledged that over the years China and Barbados enjoyed fruitful cooperation in many areas. She highlighted that projects through grants from the Chinese government included the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium and the Cheapside Market which were constructed not only to benefit the local community but also to serve as a symbol of the two countries friendship.

 

“Also, over the past years the Chinese Embassy has made its own efforts to help improve local social care and welfare services, making some material donations within our capacity to senior villages, children care centres and public schools and we will continue to do so,” she said. (TL)