In spirit of SG50, Budget 2016 to set aside funds for ground-up activities
Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, PM Lee Hsien Loong, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu pose with their wishes for SG100 before a SG50 Appreciation Dinner on March 18, 2016. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY
SINGAPORE — The community spirit that was displayed during last year’s SG50 celebrations has prompted the Government to set aside some funds in the upcoming Budget 2016 to support many more ground-up projects.
Announcing this during an appreciation dinner to thank SG50 partners last night, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat noted that community groups which had tapped the Celebration Fund last year to organise ground-up initiatives had contributed “something special in (their) own unique way”.
“Many of you said you are inspired to continue with your projects to keep our Singapore flag flying high. You thank us for supporting you, but really, all of us wish to thank you for your enthusiasm and effort. You really put meaning and spirit in our SG50 celebrations,” said Mr Heng, who is also chairman of the SG50 Steering Committee.
“I’m really inspired by your passion, your care and your readiness to take on the future, and we must continue this spirit.
“After discussions with the Prime Minister and my colleagues, I will find a way to set aside some resources in this coming Budget to support and catalyse many more ground-up initiatives,” added Mr Heng, drawing applause from 700 SG50 partners and Celebration Fund project participants who attended the dinner, held at the Flower Field Hall at Gardens by the Bay. The Finance Minister will present the Budget to Parliament on March 24.
Mr Heng’s announcement was welcomed by those who received help from the Celebration Fund for their community projects.
Mr Dennis Tan, organiser of Wheels@Ubin, where about 100 wheelchair users were taken to Pulau Ubin last year with the help of volunteers and the Singapore Navy, noted that such community projects would not be possible without funding.
Mr Tan, who is exploring the possibility of expanding his project to take wheelchair users to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, added that he was happy to hear that the Government “is giving more than just moral support”.
Ms Sandy Lim, who organised four #SgEatWithUs pop-up food carnivals, said: “This shows the recognition of our efforts, and we are appreciative of it.” Her food carnivals brought together home chefs to cook for members of the public for free.
Before the dinner started, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was present along with other Cabinet members, symbolically sealed the SG50 Time Capsule by placing the SG50 Jubilee Walk Marker as the final item in it.
In his speech, Mr Lee emphasised that SG50 is not just about Singapore’s past but also its future.
He noted that the Future of Us exhibit, which rounded off the celebrations last year, gave a glimpse of the possibilities, but added that it is not a prediction of how the future will be.
“Because the future is not there, waiting for us — it is for us to imagine, to conceive, to fight for, and to make a reality,” Mr Lee said.
