CKDO, government poised for legal battle over community centre eviction
The Central Kingstown Development Organization (CKDO) has sought legal advice over its eviction by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment, Disaster Management, and National Heritage, from the Redemption Sharpes Community Centre.
The community-based organization had been occupying the building for almost two decades during which time it saw its development and upgrade and was instrumental in effecting two major projects in Central Kingstown.
CKDO president Leroy Rock said Wednesday afternoon that a truck, believed to be owned by a government, backed up outside the Community Center earlier that day and proceeded to remove items from the building. He said he was asked to be present at the location, and he was told by a Community Develoment Officer that he was instructed to hand over the CKDO “records” but not the furniture and equipment.
Rock said there were $50,000 worth of musical equipment owned by CKDO plus a computer lab and furniture. He also said there were furniture owned by the Adult and Continuing Education Unit.
The CKDO president refused to take the CKDO documents into his responsibility, saying he would not accept them without the furniture and equipment.
“They asked me to take the records. I told them I’m not taking no records unless I get the furniture So they basically took them out and put everything they want together, because I wasn’t part of the moving. I make sure I tell them I’m not part of the moving because if I can’t get the furniture I’m not taking anything,” Rock stated.
CKDO has retained the services of two local law firms – Marks and Marks law chambers, and Carlos James law chambers – to represent them in the matter.
Minister of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment, Disaster Management, and National Heritage, Shevern John said recently that her government needed the building for repairs expected to commence by the end of this year.
Rock has expressed belief that the move by the ministry is politically-motivated. He said that days after the November 27, 2025, general elections which saw the New Democratic Party (NDP) elected to office and ending the almost quarter century reign of the Unity Labour Party (ULP), police took the keys to the Community Centre building from CKDO, and his organization has not been allowed access to their furniture, equipment and other items. He said that he had not received a notice then to vacate the building.
The downstairs of the building was constructed by government more than two decades ago. The top floor was constructed as a Learning Resource Centre from a project initiated by the Sharpes Educational Sports and Cultural Organization and Central Kingstown Development Organization (SESCO) and financed by the Social Investment Fund (SIF).
The top floor housed a community library, a computer lab sourced by CKDO for training programmes, an office, a general area and a meeting room.
Rock has emphasized the instrumental role the community-based organizations – CKDO and SESCO – have played in the development of communities in Central Kingstown, hence they should have not been made to face such treatment.
He pointed out tha SESCO and CKDO were involved in the construction of the Learning Resource Centre. He noted that SIF mad a financial contribution of $250,000 while members of the community based organizations made “in kind’ input.
Rock also noted that CKDO was involved in the Mamoon Water Supply Redevelopment project in which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by SIF and the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) in 2008.
The estimated cost of the project was $786,000. The value of the SIF contribution was $254,000 – for the water/spillway dam ($40,000) and construction of a 50,000 gallons RC tank ($214,000).
The Project Steering Committee comprised of the CWSA, SVGSIF and CKDO.
According to Rock, CKDO made substantial in kind contributions to the construction of the project.
The CWSA was the implementing agency. The statutory body agreed to contribute the remaining funds for the successful completion of the project.
Rock said that his organization was also instrumental in getting two roads at Trigger Ridge constructed by the former administration.
