The Maracas Valley Action Committee is hosting its first Awareness Walk and Environmental Fair today Sunday, March 4. MVAC, as it is fondly known to Valley residents, hopes to highlight opportunities for fellow residents to preserve, restore and enhance natural life in the Maracas Valley so that it can be a "Model Green Valley" in the Trinidad Northern Range.

Formed in 2002 by a group of residents reacting to quarrying activities in parts of the Maracas Valley, MVAC went on to become a non-profit company in 2004.

Since then its membership has grown to include persons from all neighbourhoods and villages of the Valley. The group has lobbied for various concerns including water pollution of the Maracas River, deforestation and irresponsible development.

The Awareness Walk begins at 6.30 a.m. on March 4 from the Silver Bridge, next to the WASA Pumping Station and ends at the Environmental Fair at the Leotaud Savannah, Mountain View.

The fair will host booths by the EMA, WASA, the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment and the Maracas Valley Action Committee. Residents are urged to come out and meet their MVAC representatives and to join in the cause of preserving and enhancing life in the Valley.
Refreshments will be on sale at the Environmental Fair.

The Youth Ministry Team at St John the Baptist, St John’s Village, St Augustine will hold, for the third year, our Youth Lenten Retreat outdoors in our car park. From Monday, March 12 to Friday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. we will be gathering under the stars for this eagerly anticipated annual event. On Friday, at 6:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by our Suburban Vicar, Monsignor Esau Joseph.

This year our presenters will include the CFC Youth For Christ Team from St John’s, as well as national and even international team members.

We welcome all youths 13-35 years of age to participate in the encounter we are hosting for them to meet Jesus personally and through each other - the body of Christ. The price is only an open heart.