AS part of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, Essequibo’s abandoned Good Hope Market Centre will be transformed into an all-purpose facility to be used by the community.Community leader, retired headmistress Noreen Duncan, said the Good Hope Reformation Committee has been formed with an aim to revitalize the community.

“Whether it (is) a family event, a pageant, a dance — anything that brings together the community will be held there. We want the building to be a multipurpose structure,” she said.

She said the structure will be ready for the Independence celebrations in May, and a week of activities will be celebrated in the new facility.

“The project will be undertaken from whatever help we can get, and we appreciate the assistance from the Ministry of Communities,” she said. She revealed that the building is slated to be commissioned on May, 22, 2016.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, who was present at the site, said the multipurpose community centre will be used for cultural, sporting, and recreational activities.

“I am pleased to learn of the committee’s plans, and the Ministry intends to support their desire to rehabilitate and make functional the facility for the benefit of the community’s use.

“President Granger has said that voluntary civic and community groups have an important role to play in community revitalization and animating development within our communities,” Minister Bulkan explained.

He said the retired head mistress has provided exemplary leadership in her community, and he congratulated the group even as he encouraged it to stimulate and revitalize the area.

He said the community would provide labour on a self-help basis, while the Ministry would provide materials to complete all construction requirements.

Region Two Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, said the transformation is one of many that will see a renewal in the way tourism and business is done within the region.