A whopping $.75 million in grants funding was distributed by the National Commission for Self Help Company at the Policy Research Development Institute (PRDI) on Main Street, Scarborough last Tuesday.

The distribution ceremony, which was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and the Ministry of Tobago Development, gave the grants to both faith-based organisations and individuals whose homes were affected by recent disasters. Minister of Community Development Nizam Baksh in his feature address revealed that he had overturned a decision by the previous government under Prime Minister Patrick Manning to exclude churches and other faith-based organisations from Self Help grants.

"Within one month of my appointment in this Ministry, I overturned that policy and today I am proud to say that over $600,000 in grant funding has been approved for Tobago organisations including some faith-based ones," declared Baksh.

He paid glowing tribute to the Tobago spirit of self help. "Such spirit of self help can be used as an exemplar to the rest of the nation," added Baksh. The Minister announced that his ministry had adopted the mantra of becoming the "first delivery" ministry for incidence of natural disasters. "In this regard, we have reduced the waiting time for relief to seven working day with a target of 24 hours," he said. And in her remarks, Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin expressed delight in welcoming Baksh to the island.

"We are indeed always happy to receive my colleagues and other visitors from Trinidad especially when they come bearing gifts. In fact the trade mark of my government is that they never come to Tobago, as we would say, 'wit dey two long hand swinging.' I dare say, when any government Minister comes here, you can bet that we have come to deliver!" declared Alleyne-Toppin.

"As the Minister with responsibility for coordinating central government services in Tobago, I have been blessed to be part of events such as this, events that deliver tangible benefits to Tobagonians. It is through these activities that citizens feel the caring touch of this government and know that is a government that values everyone. –Adamson Charles