St. Lucy, Barbados…[James Daniel/IAD]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Barbados is collaborating with the government of the country to eradicate poverty. The joint project engages the Office of the Advisor to the Government on Poverty Eradication (OAGPE), the Rural Development Commission, and the Northern District of Seventh-day Adventists Churches in the Parish of St. Lucy.
The Honourable Hamilton Lashley, advisor to the government on poverty eradication, said that the project is a part of the government’s program, Carrying Out the Promise.
The poverty eradication project involves rebuilding five houses that are in a state of disrepair with materials provided by the government and labor provided through the Adventist Community services department in the area.
Already, two homes were rebuilt and its keys handed to occupants Urcille Babb, 81, of River Bay in the Parish of St. Lucy, and Beryl Broome, 79, of Checker Hall, in the same Parish. They both recounted how their old homes were termite infested and now rejoice over their new homes since moving back in on Feb. 8.
Pastor Dayle Haynes, district pastor, noted that “one should view Carrying Out the Promise not only as a promise of government, but, more importantly, as a promise of God.”
Because of its outstanding work in the program, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was presented with the Prime Minister’s Award by Ms. Petra Tannis of the OAGPE.
Also present for the occasion was the Hon. Dennis Kellman, parliamentary representative for the constituency of St. Lucy; representatives from the office of the advisor on poverty eradication; Pastor Colin Thorne, personal ministries director of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; and members of the community services department of the Northern District of Seventh-day Adventist Churches.