de Souza wants to share sports halls for community bonding

The Straits Times (Singapore)

November 9, 2006

Yes, more helping hands;MPs suggest beefed-up role for CDCs, ways to close widening income divide

by Lim Wei Chean

THE community development councils (CDCs) should have a bigger role in forging stronger community bonds, said Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) yesterday.

Supporting the President's call to strengthen social cohesion, Dr Teo suggested the CDCs, formed in 1997, play a beefed-up role.

They should take on more community functions, such as financial planning,health promotion, sports promotion, social defence, community safety and security, environment issues, and community arts and culture, he said.

More 'community caring ambassadors' or 'community defenders' should beappointed and trained to encourage people to look out for each other, he added.

That way, residents can alert each other through SMS or e-mail, in times ofemergency such as a terrorist attack or disease outbreak.

Grassroots organisations, CDCs and voluntary welfare organisations can also help out with conflict resolution and community mediation.

He also suggested the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Artsand the National Arts Council provide more support to CDCs and other grassrootsbodies to organise regular arts and cultural activities at affordable prices

.

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) added that the indoor sports halls schools are now building should be made available to residents who live nearby.

Other MPs, like Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), weighed in on how grassroots and civic organisations should join hands to find ways to facilitate more meaningful interaction among residents.

...

Too little to go on with. Still, de Souza was supposedly a big fan of football and linking with kids through footie fever.

Homeboy wants to play ball? I say ball-eh!