Dear Residents,

While I was drafting this message, I thought about the trials and tribulations of 2009. About what we’d learnt as individuals, as a community and as a nation amidst the changing economic landscape; the lessons that Central Singapore CDC has reaped from this unprecedented crisis.

Then it struck me – the past is behind. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.

2009 ended in a way that was kind to us. The economy, though still weak, picked up towards the end of the year. The CDC led the response to the recession by delivering help to those in urgent need, and provided avenues for our residents to re-skill and to prepare themselves for employment.

Self-reliance is everyone’s personal responsibility however, and it is a powerful testimony to the resilience of our residents that they worked to pull themselves through the bad times; and that many stepped forward to help those in need.

The outlook for Singapore in 2010 is brighter and there is much to look forward to – a better economic situation, the opening of two resorts and the Youth Olympic Games.

A community is only as strong as the bonds between its people. To me, sports has always been a good way to form close friendships. I’m hoping that our grassroots organizations will not only use the games as a platform to connect the young but also to push forward initiatives for better ties between races.

In 2010, we will focus on helping the unemployed navigate the new economic landscape with the new Employability Taskforce’s help. Since its inception in July 2009, the taskforce has seen substantive progress under Mr Sam Tan’s leadership with the recent launch of a trial I.N.V.E.S.T Programme.

Through this, PMETS seeking jobs will receive coaching from our in-house career consultants and their professional partners in the private sector. This will build their confidence and allow them to plug into job networks in growing industries.

We will also continue to find new ways to help the needy. Recently, we launched Project Link, which aims to deepen the links between grassroots organization and other community groups.

This should produce local solutions to social problems by bringing together different stakeholders.

Much remains to be done before prosperity returns, but if we work together we can overcome all odds.

I wish all of you a Happy Chinese New Year.

Zainudin Nordin
Mayor, Central Singapore District