BNTF moves forward with comprehensive community surveys

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) is moving ahead with its island-wide community mapping project, which upon completion would result in the publication of up-to-date community statistics.

BNTF staff, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social and Community Development, has been working on the venture since July 2009. The project falls within the mandate of the development agency’s Cycle Five focus of poverty alleviation.

“The mapping seeks to document the economic, social and historical information about communities throughout the island. The information will then be organised into a booklet that will be made available to residents and other interested stakeholders,” said BNTF Community Liaison Officer Azilla Clarke.

“The purpose of the project is to provide different government ministries and the BNTF with up-to-date information regarding each community, especially in terms of knowing what resources communities already have and what areas of development need to be addressed.”

Smaller communities such as Verchilds, Challengers and Lodge have already been scrutinised. Clarke revealed that the next step would be to examine the larger areas of Old Road, Sandy Point, St. Paul’s, Molinuex/Phillips, Cayon, New Road-Ogees, West Basseterre, Newtown and Irishtown/McKnight.

Since its initiation in 1979, the BNTF has developed and conducted various initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation and reduction throughout the region. The programme’s primary objective is to improve access to basic public services for poor and vulnerable communities through the provision of social and economic infrastructure.

St. Kitts-Nevis has implemented 15 infrastructural projects, and another 10 are currently underway through the support of the BNTF. The island-wide mapping is the most recent of these and, according to Clarke, it will require strong community support and involvement.

“The project is not just about data collection; it’s an effort to revitalise community spirit by engaging with community members, pooling resources and knowledge…and providing communities with information regarding their history and community assets,” she explained.

“We will need community volunteers to engage residents in the completion of the questionnaires. We hope that persons will be as courteous and as forthcoming as the residents from the smaller communities were.”