FOOD FOR THE POOR (Incorporated) collaborated with the Stoner family of the USA and the Government of Guyana to commission the Mashabo Community Development Project, consisting of 50 houses, a water trestle with storage tanks, a community centre, a greenhouse, and a play park. This project was executed under the theme, “As often as you did it to one of the least on my brothers and sisters, you did it to me”. (Matthew 25:40).
Addressing a large gathering Thursday at the newly built ‘Faith’ Community Centre, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai thanked the donor, Mr. Charles ‘Chuck’ Stoner of the USA, for investing in Guyana, and especially at Mashabo.
Minister Sukhai described the gesture as wonderful, and also thanked Food for the Poor Incorporated for executing the project and making it a reality.
Stoner, who was accompanied by his son and several persons from the USA, thanked his Church and ‘The Father’ (God) for the project, and for bringing him to Guyana, especially at Mashabo (now renamed Hosanna Village).
He also thanked Food for the Poor for the hard work that NGO did in executing the project. Moreover, he was thankful to his wife, who had a lot to do with the project but could not attend the commissioning ceremony.
Mr. Stoner, wanting children of the new village, Hosanna, to pursue their education, has promised to provide the village with a boat and engine to transport students across the lake to attend secondary school on the Essequibo Coast.
Food for the Poor Director, Mr. Leon Davis, has thanked the donor for the village. According to Davis, over the past three years, Food for the Poor Incorporated has done tremendous work on the Essequibo Coast: some 400 houses were constructed, and more than 1,600 families are now living in better and more comfortable houses.
Mr. Davis said the 50 houses, community centre, play park and greenhouse constructed at Hosanna took 28 days to complete, and families moved into their new houses on December 20th, just before Christmas 2011.
He expressed his gratitude to all the donors of the USA, who have invested to help poor families in Guyana over the past three years.
Region 2 Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud, also thanked the local NGO for investing in Region 2.
`In his address, he said Food for the Poor has become a household name in Guyana, and he expressed his gratitude to the donor, Mr. Stoner, for the housing project at Mashabo.
Mashabo Toshao, Mr. Sylvin Raphael also expressed sincere appreciation on behalf of all Mashabo residents to Mr. Stoner and his family and church, for the very timely housing development project. According to the toshao, Mashabo is blessed and is rapidly developing. He was also thankful to Mrs. Natalie Carlisle, Vice President, Major Giving, Food for the Poor, in the USA, for considering Mashabo for the project.
Mr. Raphael said the housing project had transformed Mashabo into a scenic picture of houses overlooking the beautiful Mashabo blackwater lake from the hill top.
He told the donor that residents were now enjoying better sleep and were very happy in their new houses.
Food for the Poor Chairman, Mr. Paul Chan-A-Sue, said the housing project was a beautiful sight carved out from the jungle. He said his organisation had invested in housing projects at Red Village (Onderneeming), Red Village 2 (Siriki Sands), Mainstay, Capoey and Tapakuma, in Region 2; and that the North West District would be looked at next for such projects.
A student cut the ribbon to officially open the project, and Mr. Stoner and his team from the USA were also entertained by several cultural items, including Amerindian dances and songs.
Former Member of Parliament Mr. Isahack Basir also presented key rings with Guyana flags to Mr. Stoner, his son and wife, saying ‘thank you’ for the wonderful help for Mashabo residents. (Rajendra Prabhulall)