CATEGORY:CONSTRUCTION -------------------------- By Trevor Thwaites Inside Grenada correspondent Friday January 26,2007 MARIAN, Grenada - The country’s disaster preparedness received a major boost with the unveiling of a “Prototype Shelter in the village of Marian sometime ago. Scores of villages form the area and surrounding villages turned out for the occasion. Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who is responsible for disaster management, unveiled the Modern Day Centre. He was more than impressed with the quality and standard of the building constructed by local contractor Jack Sampson of Sampson’s Construction. It was definitely not Hotel California: but certainly a site to behold. “I was about to pass the building, which I thought was a hotel”, Dr Mitchell said as he spoke during the ceremony. He complimented all of the people who were involved in the construction and said that the beautiful building carried a positive message. “It is an indication of our recovery and advancement after Hurricane Ivan”. He noted that people around the world are impressed with the remarkable recovery underway in the country. The Prototype Shelter- the first of its kind in Grenada and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) - is also being used as a Multipurpose Centre, being able to accommodate several other activities apart from being a hurricane shelter. It is built to accommodate 500 people. Dr Mitchell said that the country is certainly on the move and encouraged his fellowmen to lend a helping hand to further the positive advancement taking place. The commissioning of the facility was indeed a special moment for Parliamentary Representative for the area, the Hon. Gregory Bowen, who masterminded the idea. He said that the EC$30 million project did not start after the country was devastated by Hurricane in 2004 but long before, because it was one of several projects being undertaken by the government. “It comes after eight years. We have been working with the World Bank discussing Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation long before Ivan and Emily.” The Parliamentary Representative for Southeast St George wants to see the facility being positively utilized. He announced and presented an 11-member Management team to oversee a smooth and effective operation. From all indications, the Multipurpose Centre could be bustling with activities. It will be operated in a business-like manner. Member of the Management Team, Glenda Lambert, said that a fee and security deposits will be charged to ensure that the centre is maintained at the highest quality. It will host wedding anniversaries, meetings, seminars, a library, an IT department, a room for educational classes and sporting activities and fund raising activities. It will be used as a Hurricane Shelter and for other disasters. The modern multipurpose centre has also been fitted with a basement which, according to the contractor, has a lot a space and has been designed to accommodate a Steele Orchestra in the village, which has been without a home for a very, very long time.