Residents of Pares village marked a significant milestone this week with the formal opening of a new community centre spearheaded by Rawdon Turner, the ABLP candidate for St. Peter. According to Antigua.news, the facility was introduced to residents during an earlier community engagement and has now been completed and officially opened.
Turner described the centre as a direct response to longstanding gaps in access to essential services, particularly for young people and students in the area.
"This centre is about opportunity," Turner said. "It's about ensuring that our young people — and anyone in the community — have access to the tools they need to succeed, whether that's completing schoolwork, conducting research, or simply accessing the internet."
The centre is equipped with internet access, printing services, and dedicated resources to assist students with School-Based Assessments, research projects, and other academic work. It is also intended to serve a broader segment of the community, including job seekers, small business operators, and residents requiring basic digital services.
Local residents welcomed the initiative, noting that reliable internet and printing facilities have historically been difficult to access in the area — a gap that has posed recurring challenges for students working against tight academic deadlines.
Turner stressed that the centre is designed to be inclusive and community-driven, extending its value beyond academics to support personal and professional development.
The opening forms part of a wider effort by Turner to address grassroots needs across St. Peter, with emphasis on youth empowerment, education, and expanding access to opportunity. The centre opens ahead of the April 30 general election.
