Rehabilitation of Independence Boulevard

─ continued youth mentorship and development

─ rehab of YMCA building in Albouystown

─ infrastructural development

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Youth mentorship, creation of employment opportunities, and creating spaces for social cohesiveness in Albouystown and Charlestown are most important for Councillor Heston Bostwick as he works assiduously to ensure residents in his constituency are comfortable and productive.

Also, on his 2019 agenda, is the construction of a ‘Night-care Centre. Acknowledging the fact that many persons work the night shift, especially single mothers who are employed with security firms; Bostwick said the centre would serve the dual purpose of providing care for their children while creating employment for residents in the constituency.

Bostwick explained, prior to 2015, he had the privilege of mentoring youths from the two communities through a programme hosted in July-August when schools closed for the holidays. To date, many have taken his teachings and successfully applied them to the management of their own small businesses, while others have higher education. During the mentorship programme, the youths benefited from educational tours, training in craft-making and masonry. Several skills training course were held to address the issue of youth unemployment.

From 2016 to present more than 500 students have benefitted from the mentorship programmes which saw them being gainfully occupied. Bostwick said this emphasis on youths has been further boosted as the community of Albouystown now has an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hub for the benefit of the youths.

On the healthy side of things, Albouystown has seen the rehabilitation of its Health Centre in 2016. Bostwick explained, “the health centre is now adequately staffed with the necessary personnel, offers more services and is equipped with a pharmacist which is of great assistance to persons in neighbouring communities”.

With regard to the environment, the community of Albouystown was affected by flooding and post-2015, the frequent desilting of drains has had a positive impact on the environment.

The councillor opined that one way to ensure the area is litter free, as garbage would often lead to the blockage of canals, is the return of regular visits by sanitary officers. “I would advocate for that; persons see it as their right to litter and not to keep their surroundings clean. Having a reinforcement of the littering bylaws, we will definitely see the restoration of the garden city – Georgetown.”

Councillor Bostwick fully supports the City Mayor’s call for citizens to pay their rates and taxes. “Before my tenure is up as councillor, I would like to see at least 75% of the residents in Albouystown and Charlestown pay their rates and taxes.” He noted that the revenue garnered will assist with further developments in the communities.

Images: Kennyann Bacchus