A small building, encapsulating many offices with very useful roles

By M Margaret Burke

AS the name implies, this multi-purpose community centre in the Grove, Parika community continues to be the host centre for a number of other offices that facilitate different activities.

Leon Moses is a man who wears many hats in the community: he is the Secretary-Manager of the Parika-Mora Del Cote Coop Society Ltd and also the Chairman of the Parika-Mora African Culture group. According to him, “This centre houses the Parika-Mora Del Conte Coop Society Ltd; the Parika-Mora African Culture group; the E-Governance Internet hub; Robotic training office, as well as the Parika-Mora small miners’ associate syndicate. So at its peak, this building really facilitates a hive of activities and many of these activities are peaking just around now.”

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Moses told the Pepperpot Magazine that the main activity of the Parika-Mora African Culture group is the commemoration of the African Emancipation every August. For this year, he said that the celebration will be held on August 3, 2019, where there will be a mega event in Parika. He pointed out that every year there is a different venue. The event was held at Bagotsville in 2017 and Den Amstel in 2018.

“These activities are set through the national committee, which is the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), and the activities usually include a series of cultural presentations in the form of dances, singing, poetry, drama, modelling cultural wear and many more. Varieties of foods, especially related to African cuisine, are also on display and sold at the event as well,” he said.

Moses added that as part of the calendar of events for this year, plans are in the works for large-scale exhibitions, showcasing not only African foods and dress styles, but also products and productive activities such as honey production, garment-making, agro-processing , skills, handicraft and much more.

MULTI-TASKING
Moses said that there is a Robotics training centre, which is an initiative of the First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger. He noted that from time to time there are training activities going on, where many young people from all around the communities benefit. He particularly highlighted the GPS training, which was done recently by the Guyana Geology and Mines (GGMC). “They came and trained a number of youth and so youth activities are strong in the area, which not [only] provides training and employment for the young ones, but also enhances development in and around the communities here.”

He went on to tell the Pepperpot Magazine that the e-Government Internet Hub also provide a very important service, which serves to enrich the lives of the young people and others within Grove, Parika and by extension all the surrounding villages. He added that while there are some existing challenges with the service at this time, it serves the purpose of helping children at school, university and others with assignments, research and other important services.

Moses said that while the Parika-Mora small miners associate syndicate speak for themselves, he can attest to the fact that the office, like all the other offices within the community centre, do a beneficial service to the communities, which are all located in Region Three.

OTHER SERVICES
He stated that for the first time, Hyde Park and Grove got water in their homes, starting from late last year. “The line was always on the main, but it was not going into their homes through the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI).

Further, he added that there are a number of bridges that were done in an effort to make the people comfortable, especially when they have to transport their produce to the market and other places; the accessibility of the Hubu stelling and there are also plans to add a stelling to Salem also – one of the sister villages in the community, just like the Parika stelling that is soon to be renovated as well.

Noting that the leadership within Region Three is working very hard to ensure that people are not only able to create wealth, which is necessary, but that they also benefit from improved lifestyles; to live in a comfortable manner with facilities that are considered ‘tangible.’

Moses said that there are also other cultural and community development groups that plan and execute sporting activities and competitions by the young people, so that they can be meaningful exchanges and other such activities. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)