Desmond Hoyte family play park opens in Rose Hall

November 28, 2016

GINA, GUYANA, Monday, November 28, 2016

The Hugh Desmond Hoyte Family Recreational Park in Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice was officially opened on Saturday with the aim of fostering social cohesion among the community’s residents.

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence officially declared the park open. The project was funded by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club with support from the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Nand Persaud Company.

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, along with two young girls cutting the ribbon to open the recreational park in Rose Hall Town, Berbice

The park was named after the former President of Guyana who served from 1985 until 1992. Hoyte was one of the first patrons of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club.

Minister Lawrence said she was lucky to have known the former president, noting that, “He was a humble man, and I’m not talking as a politician, but as a person who has had the opportunity to be recognised by him, to work with him and to be nurtured by him, and so what I am today, is also because of what he instilled in me.”

The Minister expressed her joy with the park while noting that all the furniture and play equipment were locally made.

Teachers were called on by the minister to “to bring out children here as much as possible. Bring them out and do a little class under the benab, have some interactive sessions.”

Club Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Hilbert Foster said the recreational park was a special gift to the township of Rose Hall as part of the 46th anniversary celebration of Guyana’s smallest township.

Foster said “one of the main focuses of the recreational park is for families to come out and relax together and develop social cohesion among residents of Rose Hall and we are hoping also that by getting families to come out here, it will help reduce the drug abuse, suicide and crime rate in the community.”

The town’s mayor, Vijay Kumar Ramu expressed his gratitude to Foster and the sports club’s members for their dedication and hard work. Ramu said he is “concerned with the people of Rose Hall and their development.” While noting that 26 years ago he was part of the sports club and “it has come a long way.”

Minister Lawrence said, “The mayor ought to be proud of what has been done here, not only by the club but the fact that the private sector sought to join hands with you because they see it as a good purpose and development for the young minds in Rose Hall.”

Mahendra Persaud CEO of Nand Persaud Company said that, “our economy cannot be built without young kids” and that the playground “must be fully utilised for the physical fitness, mental health, and for the enhancement of kids.”