DIGICEL Guyana on Wednesday, launched several projects at Kwakwani, Berbice River in an effort to improve the lives of residents and simultaneously foster better relations with the community.

With seven local disc jockeys (DJs) on board, the telecommunications company embarked, Wednesday morning, on sprucing up the Kwakwani Basketball Court which is utilised by almost all the youths in the village.
The DJs, Leon Watson also called ‘Killa Feelings’, Ogawe Hinds known as ‘DJ Garwin’, Rocky Carew, Raul Mitchell also known as ‘Cash Money’, Colin Blackman also called DJ Colin, Rondel Millington also called ‘DJ Rondel’ and Cleon Newark called ‘DJ Cleon’, accompanied by staffers of Digicel, including Public Relations Manager, Shonnet Moore and Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope repainted and repaired the playground.
They also handed over a quantity of sports gears, basketballs, basketball nets and paint to the Kwakwani Youth Development Group.
The Digicel delegation met with community activist, Kevin Daly and sports personality, Ann Gordon, who is responsible for the basketball team in the community and Shakeila Sampson, a senior national basketball player.
Gordon told the Guyana Chronicle that the Kwakwani Youth Basketball Group is made of youths between the ages of nine and 19 years and includes both male and female players, all drawn from the community.
She said the Basketball Court is the centre of activities for the youngsters and it is the place where they frequent daily as a form of recreation as well as to master the sport in an effort to compete with other teams in the country.
Gordon said the Basketball Group also has senior players who serve as mentors to the younger ones and assist in practice sessions.
Sampson, who was in the process of establishing a female basketball team, told this newspaper that she is always willing to promote sports, especially basketball, in her community where young people can occupy their time.

Much welcomed
Daly, who is a businessman in Kwakwani, said the gift from Digicel is much welcomed and timely in the village, as there is a rich basketball history there.
He mentioned that he was also a basketball player like many others who represented Kwakwani and did the game proud.
Daly said it is good that people from outside are showing interest in Kwakwani because there is not much to do in the close knit community, in terms of recreational activities and that would help the youths to go forward in the sport.
He pointed out that there is another basketball court on the Staff Hill in Kwakwani but it is weather-beaten and has deteriorated and badly needs to be resurfaced so that it can, once again, be utilised.
Daly said the Digicel gesture is very beneficial to the riverine community, as the basketball court would be further rehabilitated by residents under the leadership of Kwakwani Development Committee Chairman, Carl Liverpool, who will supervise the work.
Digicel also gifted the Kwakwani Library/Resource Centre, which is housed in the Workers’ Club building, with a brand new ‘Samsung’ desktop computer with all accessories, including a desk, printer/scanner, voltage regulator, webcam, speakers and headphones.
Library Administrator, Denetta Jeffrey said it is a much needed donation and they are very pleased because schoolchildren, as well as others can browse the Internet and do their assignments and such like with the facility.
She disclosed that, on a weekly basis, at least 40 children and adults frequent the library and the computer will be put to good use.
Jeffrey revealed that the books in the library were also provided through donations by several organisations and it is the place where residents visit to do research and borrow.
Kwakwani, in Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) is located approximately 40 kilometres South of Linden.