Linden commissions two community centres, women’s shelter
– ‘use them to promote development’ – DG Harmon
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 22, 2019
Youths and women in Region 10 now have safe spaces where they can go for help and self-development. Today, the United States Air Force’s New Horizon Mission handed over two community centres and a women’s shelter in Linden.
The centres were constructed in Amelia’s Ward and Blue Berry Hill while the women’s shelter was constructed at an undisclosed location in Linden.
At the presentation ceremony, held at Blue Berry Hill, Director-General (DG) of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon commended the initiative aimed at building safer communities. He said that the government is committed to building resilient communities and the centres will provide a base from which they can improve the quality of their lives.
“The community centres must be used to promote the development and act as hubs for entrepreneurship. To hone in on the opportunities for micro-enterprises and to help awaken the inherent entrepreneurial spirit and abilities of our residents in these communities,” DG Harmon said.
He charged the residents to manage the facilities within a sustainable framework which they must create themselves and must be in keeping with Guyana’s 2040 vision of a ‘Green State’.
“Very often when centres are constructed, and we saw this under the previous administration; centres were never properly maintained. That maintenance and management, we believe, must come from the communities where those centres are established” he stated.
The Director-General pointed out that the centres must be used as a tool for citizen empowerment as the government moves to build each community step by step. He also noted that the country on the right track since development can be seen and felt countrywide.
United States Charge d’Affaires, Mark Cullinane said the investment is about the future of Guyana’s generations to come. He also highlighted that the construction of the centres speaks volumes of the US commitment to developing a better relationship with Guyana.
“I want to underline that the multi-million-dollar investment by the United States in this exercise is a small price to pay when it comes to increasing the quality of life of so many Guyanese and more importantly, increasing our partner’s capacity,” Cullinane stated.
Also, in attendance at the ceremony was Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Hon. Annette Ferguson, Chief of Staff to the Guyana Defense Force, Brigadier Patrick West, Commander of the 12th Air Force Southern, Major General Andrew Croft, Her Worship the Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arindell, and Member of Parliament, Hon. Jermaine Figueira.
Meanwhile, over at Camp Base Camp Seweyo, five buildings were handed over to the Chief of Staff which were also constructed by United States Air Force’s New Horizon Mission. The buildings will be used by ranks of the GDF who are stationed at the location.