By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
MEMBER OF Parliament for Western Hanover, Ralston Hanson, says he will provide financial backing for any venture undertaken by the Hanover offices of the Social Development Commission (SDC).
The MP has been impressed by the impact the organisation is having since the deployment of a new cadre of community development officers.
"As Member of Parliament, I am putting my money where my mouth is," he said in an interview with The Gleaner last Friday.
"The SDC has my full support because I have seen where the officers have made great strides in the parish in a short five-month period. I am impressed," he said.
"You have to work with organisations such as these to ensure that they are not starved of cash to carry out their programmes; so whatever funds they need, I will have to channel it there," continued Mr. Hanson.
"Since the SDC's restructuring, I am very confident and I am feeling pleased that they have started out on a very sound footing. I am feeling their presence in even the very rural and remote areas."
Since the new cadre of community development officers started operating in Hanover, most of the community-based organisations and youth clubs, which were dormant during the restructuring phase of the SDC, have now been revived. This has been a source of great pleasure to both Mr. Hanson and the members of the various communities.
On the critical subject of governance frameworks, Mr. Hanson said that it was vital that the communities have an input into plans and programmes taking place in the parish, and thus the SDC's role was crucial.
"If we do not place emphasis on community development, we are going to lose big time," Mr. Hanson declared.
"We have to develop communities in order for them to have a vital role in development of the parish. Empowered community representatives will now serve to improve the capacities of the Hanover Parish Development Committee and the Hanover Parish Council."
