"We need all the help we can get."

This was the appeal yesterday to San Fernando Mayor Dr Navi Muradali by Trevor Brathwaite, programme director at Court Shamrock, the Centre for Socially Displaced Persons.

Court Shamrock was visited yesterday by Muradali as part of a tour of San Fernando.

Brathwaite told Muradali of the many issues affecting the building on Independence Avenue in San Fernando that came into existence in 1999 and houses 30 persons.

The issues include proper plumbing, kitchen repairs, assistance with furniture and money to maintain the building.

Brathwaite said, "We are struggling but we are helping ourselves."

He said there have been visits from officials at the San Fernando City Corporation but no help was given.

Brathwaite said it was a challenge caring for residents with so little aid.

He said, "Anybody who comes through that gate, we do not turn them out. Those who are here, we try to get them jobs. We don't put them back on the streets unless we find something for them to do. We do not only take them in and rehabilitate them, we teach them how to fish."

He said social workers were also needed to visit families of the socially displaced people.

Muradali gave Brathwaite the assurance the corporation would assist. Chairman of the Social Development Committee of the San Fernando

City Council, Councillor John Mark Chankersingh, was asked by Muradali to give a report concerning Court Shamrock before the council's next statutory meeting.

Muradali said, "Whatever needs to be done, we will certainly prioritise Court Shamrock and (contact) someone to get the remedial works done. Whatever budgetary request I have made we will look at what we have in the San Fernando Corporation and if we need more funding I am certainly going to take it to (Local Government Minister Suruj) Rambachan."

Muradali also visited the Cheshire Home for the Disabled in Pleasantville and the Marabella Public Market.