A DONATION of a smart 40-inch television set to a primary school in east Tobago may not be a big deal for some people.
But to the members of the Delaford (Tobago) Ambassadors, Trinidad Chapter, it’s a huge gesture in an ongoing initiative aimed at giving back to the village that nurtured and inspired them.
Delaford is large, rural district, located between Louis D’Or and Speyside, along the Windward Road. The area is home to King’s Bay, an idyllic waterfall and an old plantation house among other attractions.
Delaford Ambassadors president Curtis Nimblett and PRO Ansen Blackman visited Newsday’s Scarborough office on Tuesday to talk about the work of the organisation.
“We are all for giving back to the community,” said Blackman.
On Monday, Nimblett and Blackman presented the television to Delaford RC School principal Ashlyn Melville-Cornwall and other members of staff during a simple ceremony at the school, located on John Gully Crown Trace.
It was the result of a request made some time ago.
“It was definitely something that they needed because they knew about our organisation and the work we have been doing,” Blackman said.
Nimblett said the group was a bit dormant during the covid19 pandemic.
“But now that we have returned to some form of normalcy, we are trying to rekindle and get active again,” he said.
Nimblett said Monday’s presentation at the school was the group’s first project since the economy was re-opened, more than one year ago.
Established on September 13, 2003, the organisation’s mission is to provide quality service and support to deserving people and institutions of Delaford and others so affiliated through developmental programmes and activities.
The non-profit organisation, which was registered with the Ministry of Legal Affairs on February 10, 2009, is also committed to participating in the economic and social development of the community.
Blackman recalled the organisation’s genesis.
He said, “Persons from Delaford who live in Trinidad used to meet up in funerals. Yuh go to a funeral and yuh bounce up somebody that yuh eh see in a long time. And it dawned on us, this not making sense. Let us see if we can put something in place so that we could have a group where we could always meet. So that really was where it all began for this group.”
[caption id="attachment_1013628" align="alignnone" width="768"] President of the Delaford (Tobago) Ambassadors, Trinidad Chapter, Curtis Nimblett, left, and PRO Ansen Blackman at the Newsday’s office in Scarborough on April 25. - COREY CONNELLY[/caption]
Blackman said he and three other people from Delaford – Cleophas Blackman (no relation), Franklin Edwards and retired deputy police commissioner Glen Roach discussed the idea of forming a group to maintain ties with the community.
The Delaford (Tobago) Ambassadors, Trinidad Chapter, was later formed.
Today, two decades later, the organisation has a core group of between 15-20 members, who meet at the Bon Air High School, Arouca, to discuss projects for Delaford.
“We have
