ARUWAI Business Inc. has donated $1M to fund the new St. Anthony Catholic Church building at Bartica.

The timely donation was received at a presentation, by Chief Executive Officer of Aruwai and CR&R Mining Ltd, Bartician Mr. Chunilall Babulall, who handed over a cheque to Father Malcolm Rodrigues also on behalf of his family.
Babulall who has always been supportive of the Bartica community disclosed that he attended the church as a little boy growing up in Bartica and, subsequently, was a teacher at St. Anthony School there before getting into business.
He declared that he could not resist making a contribution to this venture, since the existing edifice had significant memories and had contributed to the development of his life.
In an interview, Father Rodrigues said the St. Anthony Catholic Church was built in 1902 and the wooden structure was at Stampa prior to being rebuilt at Bartica.
He said, in the 1940s, two more sections were added to what existed and that would now be reconstructed in concrete.
Rodrigues said, checking on the present church prior to it being dismantled, he saw that some of the bricks were made of red earth.
The reconstruction, costing $34M, would accommodate an office, sanitary facilities, a larger secrecy area and is expected to be completed in 23 weeks.
The priest revealed that he has written to overseas organisations in Rome and Germany and they have pledged about $8M to the project.
He said, in the past, the church fair would have raised a few million dollars very easily but that is no longer on the agenda and a number of local businesses and families have come forward in support with cash and kind.
A ‘buy a block’ scheme was started to secure concrete blocks for the erection which has commenced and is going fine.
The congregation, which comprises more than 100 members, will, when the job is finished, be able to worship in a better environment with more comfortable seating.