By Wendella Davidson

AN approximately $35 million play facility sited on a portion of land that separates the villages of Danielstown and Sparta on the Essequibo Coast, is generating much-needed revenue for the community, even as it beautifies the environment.

Undertaken as a `Green Economy’ initiative by the Ministry of Communities in partnership with the Anna Regina Town Council, construction of the project began in 2017 and was completed in 2018.

Along with the trees and beautiful flowers that enhance the impressive play area, there are 50 sets of solar lights, seating facilitie sand playing components including slides and two snackettes.

Town Clerk at the Anna Regina Mayor and Town Council, Diane Critchlow said that in addition to the facility being used as a recreational facility for children of the area and its environs, it is also a revenue earner as it is being rented for the hosting of birthday parties and weddings.

She noted that the development of the play facility is a work in progress, as there are plans to construct a shed, additional seats and another washroom facility.

Danielstown, which is approximately 12 miles from Charity, Essequibo, has a rich history, as it was bought by freed slaves in 1840.

Danielstown derived its name from an Englishman named, Daniel, who in the earlier years was the owner of the sugar factory in Sparta, and was instrumental in the development of the village.

Additionally, the town clerk said that the Anna Regina Town Council is examining various avenues by which it can garner revenue to boost its finances since for some eight years the council has been seeking without success to increase the rates and taxes being paid for properties and businesses.

She said that the council is allocated a yearly subvention of $18 million that is used to execute capital works, while monies collected as revenue from rates and taxes will offset other expenses. However, that collection she said is below 30 per cent of what should be the target.

To this end, Critchlow said that in addition to urging taxpayers to honour their obligation by paying their taxes, the council embarks on an outdoor collection exercise between January and March. Also, as an incentive, persons who clear their taxes during those months, are not charged any interest.

However, she said there is an urgent need for an evaluation to be conducted on existing and new buildings, as she disclosed that there are properties for which the taxes paid was a mere $80, but they now have huge buildings and continue to pay the same amount.

She said too, that the council, in another example of garnering revenue, has moved all of its staff to the upper floor of the spacious two-storey building, and has since been renting space on the lower flat to the Post Office Corporation and the Bureau of Statistics.

The council also rents a section of the ground floor and lawns for weddings, as well as some of its machinery.