News

The misery in Haiti continues. But so do the miracles.

The survival of Wismond Exantus after 11 days in the rubble of a grocer’s shop is totally astonishing – an amazing example of human resilience in both body and spirit.

Meanwhile the generosity of the response to appeals for help has also been heart-warming. Last week I wrote of the response from America which I was briefly visiting. Now I can write about the many millions which have been donated from this country.

I was particularly pleased that, last Saturday evening, at the annual dinner of the Sandgate branch of our local Conservative Association, we were able to raise over £600 towards the appeal. In the words of a very well known slogan from a very different context – every little helps.

Last Friday, together with Damian Collins, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate at the next election, I met Andrew Goodsell, the Chief Executive of Saga. It is very reassuring that the company has managed to buck the recession and is continuing to grow. Its decision to create 300 more jobs in our area is particularly welcome.

Also in Friday I attended a meeting of the Sellindge Residents Association together with County Councillor Susan Carey and District Councillor Jennifer Hollingsbee. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposal for the construction of a materials recycling facility and anaerobic digestion plant at Otterpool Quarry.

We were able to discuss the best way of resisting this proposal. A site visit and public meeting are to be held on February 8th and I hope to be present at both.

Last, but by no means least, my deepest sympathy goes to the family and friends of Rifleman Peter Aldridge, the soldier from Folkestone who was killed in Afghanistan last week. He was the 250th member of our Armed Forces to have made the supreme sacrifice on our behalf.

It is a woeful toll but I remain convinced that we must, together with our allies, continue the fight to bring stability to that part of the world, to prevent it becoming, once again, a haven for terrorists and, in that way, to safeguard our own security.

But we must never forget those who are asked to lay down their lives in this cause.