Collectivité President Daniel Gibbs and Préfète Déléguée Anne Laubies cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Public Service Centre in Sandy Ground on Thursday as partners in the project look on. The centre is located opposite the schools. (Robert Luckock photo)
MARIGOT–The first of two public service centres (Maison de Service au Public MSAP), was inaugurated in Sandy Ground on Thursday in the presence of Préfète Déléguée Anne Laubies, President of the Collectivité Daniel Gibbs, and various partners in the project. The centre in Sandy Ground will officially be open to the public as of Monday, May 7.
Gibbs called the inauguration “a big step forward” for Sandy Ground.
“The chosen site is important because since the beginning we expressed the wish to act in the heart of the districts, to be as close as possible to our citizens and to be able to offer them a quality public service,” he said in his introduction. “Our policy already concentrates its actions on the districts of Sandy Ground and in French Quarter with concrete projects to be carried out, and we decided following Hurricane Irma to be even more present in Sandy Ground and French Quarter to meet the needs of our affected population.
“Many families have been affected, we are aware of the emergency situations that persist, and of the distress of those who feel helpless in the face of the magnitude of the task. That is why it seemed crucial to us to create these places of proximity which were foreseen in the Contrat de Ville, but which were also a strong will of our majority. We are opening Sandy Ground this afternoon, but there will also be an MSAP in French Quarter very soon.
“We have several partners to make this project a success; the French State which is at our side, Pôle Emploi, Social Security (CGSS), Caisse Allocation Familiale (CAF), the Public Prosecutor’s office and the Trait d’Union association that aids victims. All these services can be provided directly in the heart of the neighbourhood.
“I would also like to greet the young people who are in civic service and who will be our relays within the MSAP. You are all very motivated, you are also trained. You have received training from CGSS, CAF and you will have the Pôle Emploi training next week to be able to best meet the expectations of the public.
Young people in Service Civique T-shirts (five for Sandy Ground and five for French Quarter) have been trained to welcome the public and provide information. (Robert Luckock photo)
“I would add that Mélanie Hodge, who heads the civic service for the Collectivité has also trained you on how to act at work to complete your knowledge. You’re all from Sandy Ground, so you know your audience (five youths from Sandy Ground and five from French Quarter). You now have a complete panel of knowledge and you will know – I am sure – how to welcome and inform the public. In any case, I count on you and I encourage you to give the best of yourself in the missions entrusted to you.”
Gibbs disclosed another project to open auxiliary branches of Territorial Police and Gendarmerie, a first in France, will start at the end of June.
“I am convinced that it is through this type of initiative that we will enhance public service, while strengthening the confidence of our population by knowing how to listen, surround and reassure them. Our restructuring work in the community is beginning to bear fruit. Little by little, we are increasing the power of our administration to give it back its full sense of public service.
“Irma has put obstacles in our way but know that we are determined to carry out this necessary overhaul so that our services are up to expectations. I cannot conclude without thanking Paul Whit, without whom this project would not have been possible in this place, since he made his land available. Your gesture came from the heart and I thank you.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76154-maison-de-service-au-public-inaugurated-in-sandy-ground
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