On Thursday, October 11th 2012, the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs will be hosting the official opening of the Gaston Boasman Help Desk for the Elderly and Disabled in Hope Estate.
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever stated on Wednesday, "I am extremely delighted to open this helpdesk for the elderly and physically challenged.
"This is not just another help desk. The staff here can be dispatched to help those who need it most. We have to keep trying to provide better service to our elderly and physically challenged."
This helpdesk will be distinct from the other three Community Help Desks, located in St. Peters, Dutch Quarter and Cole Bay. What will distinguish it from the rest is its focus, primarily catering to the elderly and disabled persons within our communities.
It gives true meaning to the concept of a "one stop shop" for all social products, provided under one roof and as such it enables clients with easier access to Governmental and a variety of Non-Governmental services.
This central location is also providing all their clients and social partners with much needed visibility and a platform to effectively connect and efficiently engage in serving their target groups with the aim to have sustainable outcomes. Because of the collaboration amongst stakeholders, it will also transform and facilitate interaction between Government, other service providers, such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and Community Councils and its clients.
The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour acknowledges that promoting resilient communities transcends organizational boundaries. This is attained through close collaboration between a host of social partners and stakeholders in order to address the changing needs of our society.
The Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs is confident that this joint relationship display at the Gaston Boasman Help Desk for the Elderly & Disabled, will deliver added value to the community of St. Maarten and in particular the people that it intends to serve.
In addition to the services provided by a large number of agencies, the Gaston Boasman Helpdesk for the Elderly & Disabled is a central point where also social empowerment sessions and administrative support is provided for the targeted clients, NGOs and Community Councils.
A number of 15 agencies is lending support and are collaborating from this helpdesk in its attempt to provide adequate social service to St. Maarten’s aging, physically and memory challenged citizens.
The Helpdesk can be contacted at Tel. # 542 2802/ 2803/ 2804 or visit the desk during working hours, from 8:30 – 5:00 pm from Monday – Friday at the location in Hope Estate.