Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Narberth: New group formed to welcome Syrian refugees

Published

on

Mallory Carlson: From The International Organization for Migration

Mallory Carlson: From The International Organization for Migration

A TEAM has sprung into action in Narberth to help three Syrian families settle locally.

The war in Syria continues and millions of people are without homes as a result. Many have valuable skills and could be an asset in our local communities.

The Narberth team are responding to the UK government’s recent announcement that it will allow pilots of ‘Community sponsored settlement’. This is where a group of neighbours working under a charity takes full responsibility for one or more refugee families to live among them for five years.

The UK has not allowed this in the past, but Citizens UK and Citizens Cymru have been in discussion with government for years, saying that we should learn from countries like Canada where community settlement is a huge success. There people are allowed to invite in and finance named refugees who join the host community leading to full and productive integration.

West Wales refugee support organisation, Hiraeth Hope, is a member of Citizens UK and hopes to pilot community settlement for the UK and is helping to set up the Narberth group.

Narberth has a long history of creative invention, it recreated its own destiny from a dying town to a UK music and shopping top destination. Some of the old pioneers of those days have teamed up with newer arrivals to address the refugee crisis through a Narberth community solution.

The group will meet regularly to plan how to raise the money and to provide homes, meet and greet and integrate Syrian families into the town.  Once their plan is approved by the Home Office and Council’s, the hosts plan to communicate remotely with possible guest families, so all sides can find out if the area and the refugees would suit each other.

“We want to ensure we find the people who will thrive in our rural small towns.” says Vicky Moller of Hiraeth Hope.

She continues: “When they arrive their new friends will meet them at the airport and settle them in their new homes. They will introduce them to everything from banks to buses, activities and jobs, and provide services from cultural transition to trauma therapy, including a year’s language teaching”.

Anyone wanting to help in any way is most welcome attend the next meeting which is at the Span building next to the car park today (Sep 5).

A good opportunity to learn more is on Thursday, September 22, when Ms. Mallory Carlson and a Syrian doctor will speak about Syrian culture and history.

Ms. Carlson, Senior Project Support – Resettlement, from The International Organization for Migration has detailed knowledge of Syria’s cultures, family life, diet, education before the war and of its impact and the refugee experience. She is employed nationally to prepare local authorities for settlement.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Waste dumped at recycling centre leads police to drug factory near Cardigan

Published

on

Man jailed after drug discovery sparked by vigilant staff

A TIP-OFF from staff at an Aberystwyth recycling centre has led to the discovery of a large cannabis factory in a derelict property near Cardigan — and landed a 20-year-old man behind bars.

Manuel Nerguti was sentenced to six months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (July 11) after pleading guilty to producing a class B drug.

The court heard that on May 1 this year, workers at the Aberystwyth recycling centre reported a suspicious delivery: four to five bags of cannabis stalks, apparently dumped by men in a hired Ford Transit van.

Police acted quickly and intercepted the van later that afternoon on the road between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Nerguti and two other men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, but were released without charge at the time, as no grow site had been located.

However, a month later, acting on new intelligence, Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at a derelict house in Bridell, near Cardigan. Inside, they discovered a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation: 260 mature plants spread across five rooms and an attic, with the electricity supply illegally bypassed.

During the raid on June 7, Nerguti attempted to flee but was found hiding behind a washing machine in the garage.

He was charged and later pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Garside, who led the investigation, praised the recycling centre staff for their quick thinking.

He said: “This result is thanks to the staff at the recycling centre for recognising that criminal activity was taking place and for alerting police quickly.

“We rely on the public to inform us of anything suspicious going on in their communities and we encourage people to get in touch if they suspect anything. We were able to use our local knowledge and police intelligence to execute a successful warrant and shut down an illegal cannabis factory.

“We are committed to continuing our drug operations across Dyfed-Powys and bringing offenders like Nerguti to justice.”

Police estimate the cannabis seized had a potential street value of up to £242,000.

More information on Operation Scotney — Dyfed-Powys Police’s campaign to tackle cannabis cultivation — including how to spot signs of a drug grow, can be found on their website.

Continue Reading

News

Pembrokeshire County Council group to review ‘climate emergency’

Published

on

A CALL for a group to review Pembrokeshire County Council’s decision to declare a climate emergency some six years ago has been backed by councillors.

In May 2019, the council declare a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.

He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change.

He called on the council to commit to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a notice of motion by Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review the decision made by the council to declare a climate change emergency.

Cllr Stoddart’s motion said: “Given the turbulence on the global financial markets; the parlous state of the UK’s public finances; Pembrokeshire County Council’s projected funding gap; and the government’s softening of its policies on the switch to EV vehicles and heat pumps, this council establishes a seven person, politically balanced working group to review the authority’s decision to declare a climate emergency at its meeting on May 9, 2019.

“The working group will be asked to: (a) examine the effect of the emergency declaration on the level of council tax in Pembrokeshire and particularly the extent to which any such increases militate against the authority’s anti-poverty policies.

“(b) The cost of decarbonising the council’s housing stock and the effect this has had on the authority’s ability to finance the building of new housing.

“(c) The extent to which the council’s decarbonisation programme has contributed to a reduction of the risk of runaway global temperature increases, and (d) any other effects that the working group considers may have adversely impacted the wellbeing of the residents of Pembrokeshire.”

Cllr Stoddart’s notice of motion was previously supported at the June meeting of the council’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee, with a recommendation to full council in July meeting, to reinstate the Net Zero Working Group to review the contents of the notice of motion and, subject to the outcome of this review, review the future delivery of the Net Zero Action Plan.

Cllr Stoddart’s call was backed by Cllr Steve Alderman, and Cllr Rhys Jordan, who said: “I fully support this, it couldn’t come sooner; around England and Wales councils are looking at this, there’s been a huge push for a ‘net zero’ agenda at any cost, I don’t think we’re in a position to drive that.”

Cllr Aaron Carey said: “We’ve set ourselves some lofty goals, but we haven’t got the money to back it up.”

Members overwhelmingly agreed to back the June committee recommendations.

Continue Reading

News

Urgent appeal to save 1,000 hens in Pembrokeshire and beyond

Published

on

British Hen Welfare Trust seeks homes before Friday deadline

AN URGENT appeal has been launched to find homes for more than 1,000 hens due to be rehomed next weekend – including from a rescue centre in Boncath, Pembrokeshire.

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is coordinating the rehoming effort on Saturday (July 26), aiming to rescue ex-caged hens from slaughter and instead place them into loving homes. The appeal also covers rehoming centres in Locking, near Bristol, and Kineton in Warwickshire.

The charity says the hens have come to the end of their commercial egg-laying lives, but remain healthy and can thrive as pets. However, they must be rehomed by Friday (July 25) to avoid being needlessly killed.

“This is a time-sensitive and visual story that resonates locally,” said Andy Hill, Marketing & Communications Officer for the BHWT. “These hens have worked hard their whole lives and deserve a second chance.”

The organisation recently marked the rehoming of its one millionth hen – which was adopted by King Charles III – and the upcoming effort is part of its continued mission to improve hen welfare across the UK.

Local spokespeople are available for interview, and high-resolution images are available for media use.

For more information or to register interest in adopting hens, visit: www.bhwt.org.uk

Image for illustration purposes only

Continue Reading

Crime4 hours ago

Waste dumped at recycling centre leads police to drug factory near Cardigan

Man jailed after drug discovery sparked by vigilant staff A TIP-OFF from staff at an Aberystwyth recycling centre has led...

Community1 day ago

Pollution incidents by Dŵr Cymru triple as NRW calls for urgent action

Welsh Conservatives say public being let down—but Welsh Water vows £4bn improvement plan THE NUMBER of serious pollution incidents involving...

Business2 days ago

Fishguard Port upgrade scheme lodged with national park

THE EARLY early stages of a scheme for a new link bridge and floating pontoon for Fishguard’s ferry and associated...

Farming3 days ago

Farming future at a crossroads as final Welsh support scheme unveiled

Unions, politicians and sector leaders respond to ‘once-in-a-generation’ changes in land policy THE FINAL version of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable...

News4 days ago

Fresh storm hits Neyland Town Council over church ceremony outburst

Councillor demands mayor’s resignation after ‘diatribe of hatred’ in chapel. Town Clerk responds as tribunal looms for accuser — mayor...

Crime5 days ago

Gran ‘attacked with rock near school gates’, court told

Woman ‘dragged victim by hair and gouged eyes’ in front of children A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been accused of...

Crime5 days ago

Man arrested after stabbing in Tenby housing estate

A MAN was taken to hospital with stab wounds following a serious incident in a quiet residential estate in Tenby...

Charity5 days ago

Swimmer with 1% chance of survival returns to Newgale to thank lifesavers

London woman reunited with Wales Air Ambulance medics one year after near-fatal sea rescue A LONDON woman who was given...

News6 days ago

Inquest opens into tragic A478 Blood Bike crash

AN INQUEST has been opened into the death of a retired Blood Bikes Wales volunteer who died following a crash...

Crime6 days ago

Carmarthen link to baby manslaughter case: Couple camped on wasteland behind Tesco

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon once lived rough by Five Fields Allotments before baby’s tragic death in Brighton A COUPLE...

Popular This Week