Early last month, a building extension to the existing Catholic Diocesan Child Development Centre, located in the Lake Independence area, was completed and officially opened and blessed. This creates a considerable aid to the single and working parents of the St Martin 's community.

The Centre was started by the Sisters of Mercy to cater to children who would not normally have the funds to attend a day-care or preschool in the St Martin 's area. Currently, the Centre receives funding from other sources.

After an eight-year wait, the Social Investment Fund through their Basic Needs Trust Fund was able to construct a new office, storage, kitchen and dining room.

Fr Dan White, SJ began the ceremony with a prayer and Bishop OP Martin blessed the building. Principal, Tomosa Smith, Lake Independence area representative, Hon Cordel Hyde, and Minister of Education, Francis Fonesca also attended the event. Assistant Director for Hand in Hand Ministries Bernard Panton gave the vote of thanks.

Special thanks were extended to Leonides Cuellar, President of the Board for the CDCDC, Bishop OP Martin for his continued dedication and support, Oscar Alonzo, Roger Bradley and the Social Investment Fund, Young's Engineering Firm, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and Hand in Hand Ministries.

This project was truly a community effort and the Centre will now be able to provide improved service to the families and children who live in the Lake Independence Area.

(Edited from The Christian Herald )