Layou Emergency Resource Centre to provide safety for residents during natural disaster

Prime Minister Skerrit speaking at Layou Emergency Resource Centre

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that the $2.34 million Layou Emergency Resource Centre will not only enhance the esthetics of Layou, but will ensure greater safety to residents of that community during a natural disaster.

He was speaking during a handing over ceremony of the facility on Monday.

The keys for the hurricane resilient facility were handed over to Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Rayburn Blackmoore.

“This is a wonderful gift to the residents of Layou. No doubt it will enhance the esthetics of Layou, but very importantly, it will assure greater safety to the residents of Layou in the event of a natural disaster,” Prime Minister Skerrit said.

According to him Layou, because of its location, is a vulnerable community. This is why the government has decided that it would have given special attention and consideration to that community in ensuring its safety by building this facility, “not only for difficult periods but also opportunities for training in order for economic benefits from the presence of this facility.”

“We have great confidence in the resilience and the industry of the Layou people and I have absolutely no doubt they will take the fullest advantage of this facility,” the prime minister said.

Parliamentary Representative for the St Joseph Constituency, Dr.Adis King, urged young people to take full advantage of the opportunities as they become available.

She said further that several skill training programmes in key areas are being developed for the young people of the area.

“This is in an effort to continue empowering our youth to prepare them for the job market or as self-employed individuals,” Dr. King stated. “I urge you the young people to take full advantage of these opportunities as they become available.”

Furthermore, Dr. King said she looks forward to the commencement of programmes the new facility as it is also intended to be used as a resource centre.

“Your future depends on your desire to achieve…,” she stated.” To my constituents, you have been chosen to be the beneficiaries of this important structure, please show your appreciation and gratitude by taking care of it.”

Minister for Public Works Cassanni Laville revealed that while the concept of the Layou Emergency Shelter was born before [Hurricane] Maria many design changes were made.

He also said that the government is committing to the safety and security of the vulnerable by the construction of this emergency centre facility.

“People will now have an option, a safe place to go if they ever feel at risk or unsafe and this is a very substantial commitment to the people of this area, a fulfilment of that human right to safety and security,” Laville stated.

He went on to say that the facility has an area of 8000 square ft. and in addition to the restrooms on both floors, the facility features 115 bed courts with an industrial kitchen, a small laundry mart, an administrative office, storage rooms and a medical station.

Laville said it is wired for an electrical standby generator and will have a solar power PV, a water storage tank with water harvesting from the roof and pumping system which will also supply water in the event of water lock-off.

Layou Emergency Resource Centre

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10 Comments

  1. Peter Edwrds
    June 24, 2020

    Second time DNO. What does the building look like? Would be nice to see a pi. Niot all readers live in DA. Thanks in advance!!

    ADMIN:The article has been updated with a photo of the emergency resource centre.

  2. Nkrumah Kwame
    June 24, 2020

    Dr. King,
    You are new in this thing but I see that you have begun talking in the general terms as the older ones.
    What are”the several skill training programs in key areas”?? Is it so difficult to enunciate them? Please be SPECIFIC.
    Brother Laville, you referring to safety and security as human rights?! You can get yourself in trouble with the leader 😜😂😁. According to him nothing that the government does is a “legal obligation”😉🤗🤗.
    HOTEP!

  3. Jah Rastafari
    June 23, 2020

    Skerrit would be better off flying to Barbados to bail out his friend and ambassador, Leroy Paris for fraud than to be talking all his foolishness as a guilty person would

  4. Lin Clown
    June 23, 2020

    Just above the resource center is the beautiful,HILLSBOROUGH GARDENS VILLAGE,built by the LABOUR PARTY.

    • HI FIVE
      June 24, 2020

      So the Labour Party has so much money that it builds houses and the government makes no mention of that? What next Clown?

    • Stressfree
      June 25, 2020

      Lin Clown, the CLOWN, meanwhile the construction of the famous Layou River Hotel that was promised on completion would employ hundreds from the St Joseph catchment area including Layou, and that farmers would be able to sell their fresh produce to this hotel cannot be found. Remember that promised was made to the constituents of Joseph following the so called victory in the BVI Courts. up to today not one block raised on reconstruction of this hotel. Lin Clown, the Clown, while you at it, please give us another updated lie on the status and opening of the Moroccan hotel in Portsmouth

      • Man bite dogs
        June 25, 2020

        Stressfree, you should be ashamed of yourself those so-called workers nasty clowns such as Edison James, and Lennox Linton you should be asking that stupid question.

        • Stressfree
          June 26, 2020

          Man bite dogs I will not go down in the garbage with you, just to say you guys have an obsession with Edison James and Lennox Linton. But Just answer the questions – where can I find the Layou River Hotel promised to the St.Joe constituents following the BVI court case; and I need to dine with nine other people ( following the health protocols and social distancing ) at the Moroccan Hotel because Kemspenski Hotel is closed, so can you answer me , please tell us when is this hotel expected to open. So I hope you stop biting all over the place and answer these Two simple questions ! when you answer them i will be asking follow up questions.

  5. Peter Edwards
    June 23, 2020

    DNO, do you have a pic of the building?? All that info and not a single pic to see what it’s all about .Not everyone reading the news lives in DA. Thanks!!!!

    ADMIN: We do not have a recent picture of the resource centre and so far our attempts to acquire one has not been successful.

  6. Ibo France
    June 23, 2020

    What the people need most is rescue from you, Mr. Skerrit. You are more dangerous and destructive than any hurricane.

    Look what you’ve done to the many thousands of lives. You have your fellow country men living in abject poverty on the brink of starvation. So many can’t afford a nitrous meal. They have no choice but to eat cheap, cholesterol laden foods.

    The vast majority of people, presently living on the island, will utter a collective sigh of relief and express superlative happiness if you just vacate office.

    Most citizens are just anxiously waiting to breathe again.

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