Under its Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, the Anguilla Red Cross has made another significant contribution to community life on the island. The latest is the handing over of a refurbished well and various pieces of solid waste equipment to residents of the Cauls Pond/Wattices area.
Among the difficulties which have been facing the Cauls Pond/Wattices community, for some time, has been a shortage of running water. In an effort to help themselves a number of residents got together, cleaned out the historic Stone Well, which is only twelve feet deep, and installed a pump and a portable generator in a nearby small room. The work has provided an opportunity for residents to obtain buckets of water from the well which has been a source of fresh water for over 100 years. No trucks will be allowed to take water from the well.
Newly-appointed Red Cross Director and Programme Officer, Mr. Vanroy Hodge, said at the handing over ceremony on Friday, February 17, that it was about the sixth contribution by the organisation to communities in Anguilla – over the past four to five years – at a total cost of EC$80,000. The other varied contributions were made to the communities of North Valley, East End, West End and Blowing Point.
According to Mr. Hodge, the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme is being funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development and the British Red Cross. He acknowledged that the Anguilla Red Cross had so far received tremendous support from the Government of Anguilla and other valued supporters.
“While the Anguilla Red Cross continues to strengthen its own capacities for disaster response, it will also be adopting a systematic approach to strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities,” he stated. “This is being done by promoting actions and activities to reduce risks and mitigate the effects of natural and/or man-made disasters,” he continued. “The Anguilla Red Cross Branch will continue to work with vulnerable communities and other interested groups to reduce community exposure to risks.”
Director of the Department of Disaster Management, Ms. Melissa Meade, said that apart from assisting in emergency situations, members of the public were being encouraged to become involved in a number of non-emergency projects like the refurbishing of the well. She commended the residents for their hard work and self-help efforts, and assured them of the assistance of her department when required.
Mr. Trevor Queeley, the Red Cross Risk Reduction Programme Manager, who worked closely with the residents, credited a number of them for the initiative and thanked them for their several roles. He was also grateful to them for involving the Red Cross in the community development project.
He noted that the assistance of the Red Cross included the provision of garbage bins and tools for use in keeping the village clean. Also, he disclosed that as part of their improvement work, the residents planned to establish a nearby playing field for the community’s children. Signs advising motorists that children are, for the time being, playing along the road have already been put in place and were unveiled during the ceremony.
Ms Brenda Griffin, one of the leaders of the community project, thanked the Red Cross for its valuable assistance. In addition, she placed on record contributions from a number of persons. The main contributors were: Mr. Franklyn Bryan who donated a container to store equipment; Mr. Moran Hall and Mr. Greig Hughes who transported it to the site; Mrs. Iota Rogers-Phillip, the landowner; Mr. Remington Lake for fencing supplies; Ms Lorraine Lake for donating towards a set of benches; and Mr. Stanley Carty for his plumbing work at the well.
