Multi-Million Dollar Hinterland Tertiary Dormitory to be commissioned early March
The approximately $186Million Hinterland Student Dormitory located in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara is set for commissioning in early March. The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is currently finalising preparations for this historic occasion.
The spanking new facility which is aback the current Hinterland Student dormitory is the first of its kind for hinterland students who are pursuing a higher education.
The students currently attend the University of Guyana (U.G), the Cyril Potter College of Education (C.P.C.E), the Government Technical Institute (G.T.I), the Guyana School of Agriculture, Carnegie School of Home Economics, the E.R Burrows School of Art and the Guyana Industrial Training Centre.
The 16-apartment facility boasts a male and a female dormitory with each apartment housing eight students at any given time and boasts a kitchenette, toilet and bath area and a study area, while the dormitory itself boasts a cooking area, a library and a play area as well as accommodation for two dormitory supervisors.
Currently, several students attending tertiary institutes are being housed at the Secondary Student Dormitory, Liliendaal and at the Indigenous Residence in Princess Street.
Last year, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock said his ministry was eagerly awaiting the completion of the facility thereby allowing the students to advance their education in a more conducive environment.
This dream is soon to be realised.
The project is being executed by BK International and supervised by the consultancy firm Kalitech Incorporated.
Fifty-five-year-old retired Headmistress Valerie David from Mabaruma is the Facility’s Administrator. David has given thirty-eight years to the teaching profession.
Over the past ten years, an estimated 600 students have benefited from hinterland scholarships to attend several tertiary institutions in Georgetown; amongst them, the Guyana Technical Institute (G.T.I), Carnegie School of Home Economics, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and the Guyana Industrial Technical Center (G.I.T.C) both resident and non-resident. Accommodation has always been a challenge, hence the Ministry’s decision to execute such a project.
Educating the nation remains a top priority on the Government’s agenda and the provisions of such critical facilities will greatly aid in its bid to bridge the gap between the Hinterland and the Coastland.