Community

WBCC Focuses onWest Bayers'

Officialsof the WBCC are (from left)Mrs. Cora Grant-James, Team Leaderfor Commerce; Mrs. Eziethamae Bodden, Public Relations Officer;Mr. Bruce Blake, Labour; Mrs. Welma Parchment, Treasurer; Mrs.Pamela Ebanks, Fundraising; Mrs. Laura Young, Community Service.Mrs. Jacqueline Ebanks, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Jeana Ebanks,Chairwoman; and Mrs. Brenda Bush, Youth and Sports.
Missing are Mrs. Denise Ebanks, Team Leader, Edlerly; Mrs. OrleeEbanks, Secretary, Mr. Raul Nicholson-Coe, Website Manager; andMr. Patrick Schmid, Vice-Chairman.

In an effort to develop their communityof West Bay, a group of visionary non-partisan residents, recentlyformed the West Bay Community Council, and began to address theconcerns of the district.

The group's Chairwoman, Mrs. Jeana Ebanks,said it is their goal to search into the vast untapped potentialwithin the community in order to become more interdependent andless dependent on government for ongoing needs.

The WBCC will focus on projects that willprovide maximum benefits to the community, such as creation ofnew and enhancement of existing extra-curricular activities forthe youth, monthly social nights for the elderly, revitalizingthe district's commerce through round table discussions with localmerchants, district beautification programmes, and assisting withthe job applications and job interview process.

"It is our belief that our most valuableresource is our West Bay people, with such a rich heritage andwe want to make a concerted effort to bring them together,"Mrs. Ebanks said.

Although WBCC's structure is new to thedistrict, the concept is "certainly not new," she said.The idea was borrowed from the 'good old Caymanian days' and theattempt is being made to recapture the essence of "beingour brother's keeper," back in a time when people took thetime and care and were willing to watch out for the common goodof their community.

She said, "while the WBCC does understandthe stresses being placed on today's more technologically advancedsociety and the resulting breakdown in the family structure, wefeel the need to provide an organization which would serve asa catalyst to positive change. So as not to duplicate efforts,this group will serve to better co-ordinate existing resourcesalready in place in the community as well as help identify additionalareas of need."

So far the group has successfully completedits first annual Ash Wednesday Walk-A-Thon, with partial proceedsgiven to two West Bay gentlemen, who are struggling with cancer.Another fundraiser in the form of a fish-fry is planned for Aprilat the West Bay Public Beach. The group has also provided transportationfor the elderly of the district to attend the First Youth Parliamentat the Legislative Assembly in an effort to help bridge today'svery wide gap in the generations.

Sub-committee meetings are held monthly,where members prioritize the community's immediate needs and worktogether to arrive at attainable and effective solutions to problems,while seeing to any necessary implementation and follow-up forcontinued success.

WBCC has over 50 members and is recruitingother interested residents.

Return