BEVERLY HILLS residents are applauding the initiative by National Security Minister, Jack Warner, to improve their neighbourhood.

"The initiative he taking, no body else doing it and he showing that he care about the people, and not to say is a political thing, but at the end of the day is about uplifting your communities and he make the first step and is up to we in the community now to continue," said Kirk Forde.

On Saturday Warner told attendees at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Youth Club extravaganza at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya that he would "uproot trees and clear lands for the Division of National Security in Laventille."

And yesterday, while addressing the residents and the contractors hired to clear away the land and debris, he promised to build a basketball court, a play park and community centre along with his office.

When Express visited the area after Warner left, residents were singing joyous praises while children were playing in one section of the crescent driveway that led to the low cost housing units.

"We are living in this housing area so we are facing the challenges, so we know first hand and we are definitely glad to hear that Warner going to build these things. The HDC (Housing Development Corporation) had promised to build it, but that was years now and they never do anything," Forde added.

Currently, there are two companies hired to work on the project, namely, Motivational Movers Company Limited and Future Contractors Limited, both of Laventille.

Kwasi Sealy, president of Motivational Movers, added that he was surprised to see just how fast Warner worked.

"I must say that it is very good and he showing that for a minister, he care about the people and he answering our cries for help. I mean one day he was here and the next he organised for things to happen," he said.

Asked whether they had worked out the cost for the project and the completion date, Sealy said "we still needed to sort out everything".

"You see Mr. Warner; he is a man of his word. Never in the history of my life living up here have I ever seen that a National Security Minister came up here, held a public meeting, made certain promises and work on it so fast and I must say hats off to him."

"This is not one of their seats, this is not UNC up here, this is a PNM area and he responded to the call," Sealy Said.

Sealy added that they will be hiring people from within the area to help with the project.