He noted that the government had built the multipurpose centre through a World Bank loan of nearly EC$1 million and told the gathered members of the public and well wishers who came to witness its opening that he would want the facility to produce the best the island could have from its people.

The centre will be used by all the people in the neighbouring communities and according to the chairman of the day’s proceedings, Mr David Grante, it had galvanised the people in the surrounding areas to form the Pond Hill, Clay Ghut, Chicken Stone and Beach Road Community Club (PCCB-CC).

“Your Government is prepared to give it (the centre) full support to whatever programmes that the club organises, and we will support them because we have the interest of the young people and the future of this country as one of our prime objectives,” noted the Premier.

He said that through the Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports that the Government would initiate formal skills training and informal skills training.

“We want to ensure that our youth have the opportunity to maximise their God-given potential and talents, whether it is in technical, computer, culinary skills, craft, art and other aspects of development so that they can feel good about this community centre and the facilities which it provides,” promised Premier Amory.

Also addressing the gathering was the Junior Minister for Youth and Sports, Community Affairs, Trade and Industry, the Hon Mr Laughton Brandy who challenged the people in the area to claim ownership of the facility by making maximum use of it saying that he would rather see it disintegrate through its being used by people and not to disintegrate from termites.

“This building was designed so that it could also be a hurricane shelter in the time of hurricanes,” observed Mr Brandy. “But as you know hurricanes do not come every year, but as good governance would dictate, the Nevis Island Administration thought best to prepare in the event that a hurricane should strike.”

The colourful event was held under the patronage of Mrs Kenisha Belle, who also cut the ribbon to declare the building officially open. Making brief comments were the area parliamentary representative, the Hon Mr Malcolm Guishard, and PCCB-CC President Ms Hazel Chiverton.  

In attendance included Cabinet Secretary Mr Oban Lawrence, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, Trade and Industry, Mr Brian David, Director of Community Affairs, Jefferson Wallace, Permanent Secretary for Human Resources, Mrs Venetta Hobson-Moving and the Skills Training Officer with the Department of Community Affairs, Ms Marie Mason.

Eight elderly persons were honoured during the ceremony for their contribution to the communities and were awarded with commemorative plaques. They were: Mrs Leontine Clarke, Mr Lewis Elliot, Mr Emmanuel Daniel, Mr George Herbert, Mr Arnold Chiverton, Mrs Froncille Perkins, George Merchant and Mrs Violet Hanley.