STACDC To Produce Newsletter To Inform Residents

A newsletter to highlight relevant issues of local governance and community development in St. Thomas, is expected to be published before December by the St. Thomas Association of Community Development Committees (STACDC). STACDC, which was established in November 2001, as part of the Local Government Reform Programme, is designed to facilitate the growth and development of communities. It represents all the Community Development Committees (CDCs) and their associated community-based organizations in the parish.
Chairman of the STACDC, Emerson James, told JIS News that the newsletter was intended to increase public awareness on development issues in the parish and to promote products and services available.
“A number of things are happening in the parish and individuals are not aware of them, so if persons could be aware of what was happening in their communities and what was happening outside, we are sure that we will have a better community,” he said. Initially, he said the newsletter would be published monthly. “Our dream is to have it weekly,” he added.
Mr. James said the STACDC was currently engaged in fundraising activities to finance the project, which he said would cost over $5 million. In addition, he informed that the Committee would be seeking financial assistance from funding agencies, and that a project proposal had been prepared and submitted to several of them. “We are optimistic that we will get the money,” he stated.
He said the business community was “enthused”, and has consented to place advertisements in the publication, adding that writers have already been contacted to prepare articles for the newsletter.