By Telesha Ramnarine

THE Shalom Mission in Guyana, run by overseas-based Guyanese John Singh, is pleading with Government to make land available for the construction of an office, as this would help the organization to provide services on a grander scale.In a recent interview with this newspaper, Singh said he has been appealing to both the previous and current administrations to make land available to the organization. He pointed out that the organization is willing to pay for the land.

“We wanted land on the East Coast to build an office, but the Government has told us they don’t have. We wrote a letter to Mr. Bulkan (Communities Minister), and I am rewriting another. We don’t have a lot of finances to secure it privately. Once we are established, we can do a whole lot more. We are hoping Government steps in and provide some assistance. We told them we are not asking for it for free; we are willing to pay,” Singh expressed.

He said he visits Guyana annually to coordinate activities with the 16 local volunteers who work in his absence. This time around, he is here for five weeks, and has already visited and provided assistance to communities in Buxton, Mahaicony, West Coast Demerara, and Canje, East Berbice.

For the past eight years, Singh said, the organization, an arm of the Bronx Church of God in New York, has been distributing items to the needy, and has even extended assistance to hospitals. Items include pampers, walkers, wheelchairs, clothing, school supplies, first aid, blankets and many more.

This time, all of the wheelchairs are to be donated to the Georgetown Hospital; but having gone around and seen the need at other hospitals, Singh said, he has decided to distribute them accordingly.

“We want to know how we can help, and which areas are more in need. We would like to be as much help as possible,” Singh said about the non-profit organization, which is fuelled mainly by donations.

But donations are not asked of Guyanese. “We ship all of the stuff in 40-foot containers to Guyana. Everything is from New York. We started in the USA and realised there were many such organisations there, so I came to Guyana and saw the need.”

Singh said the services of the Shalom Mission of Guyana are not limited to entities of similar religion or to organisations. “We don’t care about the background, we just want to help.” He declared.

Shalom Mission can be reached on telephone # 690-5050, or by email at rev2207@gmail.com.