– Min. Allicock delivers on a promise
RESIDENTS of Speightland, Central Mackenzie, Linden, received a total of 300 chickens along with bags of feed to start up poultry-rearing businesses.
The poultry was handed over to five residents by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, during a simple ceremony in the village on Friday. One person received 100 chickens while the remaining received 50 each. Minister Allicock explained that the initiative delivers on a promise made to the residents during an engagement last year. Fourteen residents in the village had invested in building chicken coops and needed support to get the poultry to start their business. Minister Allicock said that he was able to secure 750 chickens which will be distributed in consignment to the 14 persons; these five persons being the first group to receive.
“We have to take them by batches, the first batch is five persons, and then we stagger them in a two-week process so that we would have a system that you will have chickens rolling all the time. So, we are starting small with 50 chickens… this will help you to study the whole anatomy of the chicken, the feed, the market, and most of all, keeping the environment clean.”
Twenty-five-year-old Juliet DaSilva, who received 50 chickens to begin her poultry business, already owns an internet café. She said that this will see her earning more to sustain her family. “I am very thankful for this, as young people, we will be able to develop ourselves and earn, and make a contribution to the development of our community.”
Additionally, Jim Persaud, a block maker, also received $100,000 to boost his block-making business. He had also requested assistance from the government to purchase tools to kick-start his own cement block-making business to sustain his family. Persaud, who has been living in Speightland for some 30 years, said that he already has the sand and bricks and the money will be used to purchase the mold and cement. “I’m thankful for this, it is a great start,” he said. According to Minister Allicock, this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to empower citizens so that they can earn a living and make meaningful contributions to their communities and by extension the country.
