| – co-operative effort is an example for entire GuyanaIf Guyana is to develop at an acceptable pace, the example of co-operation shown by the New York Chapter and their local counterparts of the Haslington/Golden Grove/Nabaclis Association is one to follow.With financial contributions from the New York-based group, residents of the East Coast Demerara communities can now benefit from a spanking new multi-million dollar community development centre.The facility was officially opened yesterday by Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and attracted a number of leading figures in Guyana, including, sons of the village, Justices Frank Holder and Donald Trotman, and People’s National Congress Reform members, Winston Murray, Dr. Richard Van West Charles and Aubrey Norton to name a few.The Centre will allow for the development of the social and technological aspirations of residents in the community and comes at a time when there appears to be a dwindling of youth initiatives for the enhancement of the lives of the young residents of the East Coast villages.The project was conceptualised when the previous facility in the community was deemed inadequate.The local steering committee then solicited the assistance of Keith Booker, a resident of the community who was at the time the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport under Minister Gail Tiexiera to acquire the property that once housed a Guyana Stores Limited outlet.After securing a 15 year lease, their next move was to seek funding for the project and this led to the involvement of New York based villagers.President of the New York chapter, Whitney Smith, disclosed that the group was formed in 2003 on the suggestion of one of its founding members that they get together and do something in the form of giving back to the village of their birth.The spanking new multi- purpose community centre at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.He said that they began reaching out to prominent residents of the village to see what form of assistance they could render.The group received only one response and this was a request for the building of a community centre.The New York group then embarked on a series of fund raising activities to finance the project and according to Smith, the response of the Guyanese Diaspora of New York was overwhelming.The actual project commenced in 2008 and several members of the New York group even made the trip home to be part of the official opening of the facility.Prominent Golden Grove resident, Justice Donald Trotman described the venture as an example of the type of co-operative effort that is needed for the sure development of Guyana.“It is this combination of effort that we need in this country today. Today this is a microcosm of this proposal that we in this small community of Golden Grove/Nabaclis/Haslington can show to the rest of the people of Guyana what co-operation and collaboration can achieve,NFL Jerseys China, regardless of what political party we belong, regardless of what church we’re going to. It is this coming together for doing good that is the result of what we see here today,” Justice Trotman said, to resounding applause from the audience.Speaking directly to Minister Frank Anthony and two PNCR Members of Parliament who were in the audience, Justice Trotman said that he hoped that the example shown by the players in the venture is followed with regards to the notion of shared governance.Minister, Dr. Anthony who is no stranger to the community having been born in the neighbouring village of Enmore and serving for five years as a medical practitioner with his wife in Cove and John, lauded the efforts of the facilitators of the Centre and pledged his Ministry’s unstinted support to ensure its success.He said that the multi-purpose Community Centre is a very important space if used well.“But putting up a building is one thing, running programmes in this building is going to be quite another task and the local committee, I suppose, will have to work even harder to ensure that we have quality programmes that are being offered here,” Minister Anthony said.He pledged his Ministry’s support to provide equipment and personnel to assist in the development of areas such as steel pan and masquerade.The Minister also took the opportunity to assure the residents of his commitment to refurbishing the Golden Grove playing field which was in a state of ruin for several years and is only now beginning to return to its glory days. |
