Crippling issues for Pinelands

ONE of the island’s leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs) says it has a significant challenge in raising funds.Rodney Grant, chief executive officer of the Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW), said, “Although we have alternative sources of funding, funding remains one of the significant challenges . . . we are working on some strategies that we hope will resolve this.“We are in a situation where the very building that we are operating from is in need of significant repairs. We do not have the resources to do the repairs. In fact, we had appealed to Government for its support . . . we now have to turn to the private sector for support,” Grant said.He said, however, that despite the challenges, the various programmes of the organisation continued to do well and it was a way of developing the skills of young people in the community.“What is required then is just the resources. The work of an NGO is very critical . . . we need far more support and facilitation for all sectors and all players so we need greater collaboration with Government. Genuine partnership“We need a more wholesome and genuine partnership with Government and the private sector. It is very important. We don’t need superficial partnerships because the work that we are doing is meaningful,” he said.Grant also spoke of how the political divide and politicising the PCW continue to cripple that NGO.“One of the things that we find have been crippling us over the last few years is the whole issue of political divide and the politicising of the organisation. I find it very unfortunate that politicians took it upon themselves to politicise an organisation that has done so many good things over the years genuinely on behalf of the people of Barbados. . . ,” he said.He added that the NGO has never been partisan in providing services or work. Grant said while the organisation had benefited from both Barbados Labour Party and Democratic Labour Party administrations, what they had been doing was “work for the people of Barbados”.He said, “It is unfortunate that . . . we are now branded as a BLP organisation when we have also gained significant support from the DLP administration. It hampers the work of the organisation and creates a divide in the community in the way people see us.” (MM)