PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake recently met with the President of the Dutch Quarter Community Council (DQCC) Sidney de Weever Community Police Officer (CPO) Statie to discuss a number of community related issues.
Minister Lake will be doing a walk-through in the district of Dutch Quarter as a follow-up to the meeting with community representatives.
The Minister was briefed about certain situations throughout the Dutch Quarter neighborhood and those that should be addressed soonest. CPO Statie also highlighted some issues from a public safety standpoint.
The main concerns brought forward were street lighting in the neighborhood especially along the main road; and the exposed trench in front of the football field.
The DQCC President De Weever also asked that the Council have the opportunity to review draft plans where it concerns infrastructure and other related developments for the DQ district.
"I fully support inclusion in community district development. This is where getting 'back to basics' comes into play. We need to dialogue and communicate more and work together in resolving pressing community issues.
"Our community councils know their districts well and may have ideas and solutions on how to better improve their neighborhoods. We need to work together and we will create better and improved living environments for our people," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake pointed out.
Another area of concern for the DQCC is garbage collection where secondary and tertiary roads are not being serviced regularly by the garbage contractor who is responsible for this area, and they would like to see a solution found in order to improve the services being rendered.
DQCC also suggested when employing young people from the district, they should also receive basic life skills especially in the trade that they work in.
"I fully agree, any government program must have as its foundation skills development. We must provide marketable skills to those who are lacking these for whatever reason. Everybody deserves a chance and a second chance.
"We are a small community and nobody should be left behind. We are reliant and dependent on each other, and must support each other.
"The further training and formal certification of these individuals would enable them to improve their competence and put the consumer and employer in a better position to get value for money.
"It would create an environment for these young individuals to claim higher wages, benefits and greater job security," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Sunday.
Minister Lake within short will also be meeting with Union Farm homeowners to listen to their concerns.
