Amelia’s Ward Community Centre to aid in its socio-economic development
— Green agenda to be pushed in programmes
—Basketball court to be constructed soon
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 8, 2019
Youths, women and senior citizens of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, will now benefit from constructive activities in a safe space, after a new community centre, was officially handed over.
This is the first community centre, that the residents of Amelia’s Ward can call their own and will serve as a hub for development.
The centre was gifted to the community from the United States Army, through its New Horizon Guyana 2019, mission. Commander of the New Horizon Guyana 2019, Colonel Ken Bratland, said that he hopes the building can act as a cornerstone for the community of Amelia’s Ward. He anticipated that great things can happen at the facility and urges the residents to make the best use of it.
Her Worship the Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell pointed out the centre will aid in the social and economic development of the community. All the necessary stakeholders, she said, will play a role in ensuring that it is used for the empowerment of young people, women, children and seniors as well as for sport development since a basketball court will be constructed soon.
“What you have done today, is to help to build a community… this centre will aid in the socio-economic development of Amelia’s Ward. So, I encourage you, the residents of Amelia’s Ward, to maintain this site, let us use it for what is it here for, let us protect it,” she said.
The residents were also urged to incorporate the Green State Development Strategy in community projects and programmes to be facilitated at the centre. Mayor Arrindell noted that the sustainable development goals must also be taken into account, so not only the residents would benefit, but the community’s environment as well.
Community Development Council’s Technical Coordinator, Eugene Gilbert said the New Horizon Project speaks to a philosophical foundation of caring for others. He suggested that the centre be managed by a board of trustees who will be responsible for mobilising resources from various agencies for community development.
On August 5, another community centre was commissioned at Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The construction of the facility was also done through a partnership with the New Horizon Guyana Mission.
At the end of August, another centre at BlueBerry Hill and a woman’s empowerment centre at Richmond Hill are slated to be commissioned as well.
These four projects commenced in February of this year by the New Horizon Guyana team at a cost $188Billion (US$900,000).