More Region Six families receive low-cost homes

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Twenty-six more residents of East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) will now benefit from low-cost housing, compliments of Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana Incorporated.

Each family acquired a 20×16 feet two-bedroom wooden house constructed by the organisation. The homes are equipped with a water tank and furnished with two beds, a table and chairs, gas stoves, food items, along with bed covers and clothing. For those families with children, a bicycle was also provided as their means of transportation to attend school. Solar panels will be distributed to the families that do not have electricity.

A presentation ceremony to hand over the keys to the recipients was held yesterday at the St. Francis Community Developers building, Portuguese Quarter in Rose Hall Town.

Kent Vincent addressing the families

[In the photo, back row] The beneficiaries along with the FFTP team [front row from left] Alex Foster, Chief Executive Officer of FFTP, Kent Vincent and Andrea Benjamin, a representative from FFTP and a beneficiary

Andrea Benjamin presenting a key to one family member

The programme was chaired by the president of FFTP’s Berbice chapter, Alex Foster who also serves as the Focal Point Coordinator and Advisor to the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence. Also attending was the Chief Executive Officer of FFTP, Kent Vincent and Andrea Benjamin the organisation’s Senior Project Manager.

In his address to the families gathered, Vincent reminded that one of the main policies of FFTP states that the family must have access to land before the organisation can assist, also the homes will all be one standard size and design. Benjamin encouraged the families to plant kitchen gardens, rare livestock, operate small licensed businesses in order to earn a livelihood for themselves.

Over the past years, FFTP has embarked on a housing project that has spanned from the Upper Corentyne to the East Bank of Berbice. Within the last eight months, the organisation has distributed 78 houses across the country.

Story and Images: Tanuja Raikha