A COMMITTEE to oversee the management of parks and playfields in New Amsterdam, Berbice, was established on Tuesday in the Town Hall.
Its mid-morning inauguration was scheduled to be held on the lawns of Esplanade Ground but the weather conditions caused the venue shift.
The eight-member body, chaired by Ms. Winifred Haywood, is to work in collaboration with the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) on rebuilding and enhancing the recreational facilities for physical, social and other developmental activities, at Burnham Park, the Municipal Playground, the Basketball Court and Esplanade Ground.
In his remarks on the occasion, Mayor Claude Henry expressed gratitude to the Regional Administration of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) for expending $2M to landfill Burnham Park.
He said he is optimistic of having the business community support to return New Amsterdam to its former glory.
Mr. Henry explained that while the Council has several developmental plans, lack of resources delayed progress but public/private participation resulted from a stake-holders initiative several years ago.
According to him, the terms under which the Committee will function, for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed, the M&TC remains the full custodian of all the parks and playfields it controls.
The Committee is given responsibility to manage, rehabilitate, upgrade and maintain them but has agreed with the M&TC to work in partnership.
Henry said a bank account will be opened and the Treasurer of the Committee, together with Haywood, would be the authorising signatories and/or the Secretary and any other person so authorised.
He said the Committee is to give the Council no less than 15 per cent of all monies received while taking responsibility for all utility charges, among others.
Meanwhile, The Acting Town Clerk, Ms. Angelina Collins acknowledged that the municipality was unable to carry out the mammoth task by itself. However, with the parks and playfields upgraded, recreational and religious events will be allowed in them.
Other Committee members are Vice-Chair, Mr. Keith O’Jeer; Secretary. Ms. Carolyn Quain; Treasurer, Mr. Courtney Liddell; Public Relation Officer, Mr. Phillip Carrington; Mr. Kurt Alphonso, Shri Khirodhar and Mr. Mark Holder.