A multimillion-dollar programme initiated by Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago and financially supported by Scotiabank is coming to Tobago East.
Titled “ScotiaRise TT,” the initiative sees partnership with the Tobago House of Assembly and the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville.
According to Habitat for Humanity’s National Director, Jennifer Massiah, at Tuesday’s launch of the ScotiaRISE TT project, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Tobago House of Assembly, and the Chief Secretary was challenged to match funding.
“The Chief, I don’t know what the Secretary said to him, but between the two when they collaborated the cheque was dollar for dollar and it wasn’t $500,000. It was $1,445,000. That signalled the commitment to housing and the commitment to resiliency.”
Habitat for Humanity went in search of additional funding, which was made possible through Scotiabank. The project will be rolled out in Louis D’or and Charlotteville.
Scotiabank’s Vice President, Retail & Business Banking, Richard Edoo, stated, “This partnership spans a two-year period with a commitment of Canadian $950,000 or approximately TT$4.7 million from Scotiabank. This is the largest community investment we have made here in Tobago and a key part of our ESG agenda. We are very excited to contribute towards building social cohesion and climate resilience in these two communities, as they will be able to address issues most pertinent to their social and environmental well-being.”
According to Programme Manager at Habitat for Humanity, T&T, Jamel Fraser, the project will see critical repairs to residences in Tobago East as well as training in sustainable agricultural practices.
“We will see the training of fifty persons on the importance of rainwater harvesting and the construction methodologies in establishing rainwater harvesting systems. This will then be taken a step further with the employ of a selection of those persons in the actual construction of those systems. Through our Climate Smart Agriculture Training, it is our intention under this project to equip 200 persons with an exposure to more efficient and sustainable ways of crop production.”
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said 300 people will also benefit from training on identifying and mitigating exposure to disasters.
“We can say that the Tobago House of Assembly will be willing to contribute towards this project and to ensure that the communities between Louis D’or and Charlotteville reap the benefits of this programme, and that all of the community groups here are well-serviced, well-served by the programme, and that they learn so much that the community will become much more autonomous.”
The event culminated with a Sod Turning Ceremony in Louis D’or.