-significantly changing the lives of residents

HINTERLAND communities located up the Upper Demerara –Berbice Region (Region Ten), are now benefiting from a plethora of developmental projects across the main sectors.
Soon to be commissioned is a spanking new Kwakwani Magistrates’ Court, which should contribute to the reduction of crime. A spanking new resource centre, which will include an Information Communication Technology (ICT) hub is also 90% completed.
Resident of Kwakwani, Mavis Lewis, said that it pleased her heart that such a facility is brought to her hometown. “That is very good for the young people….they will benefit from that, that is the first for Kwakwani and it is very good,” she said. Lewis believes that trained personnel in ICT should be employed at the centre to better assist the youths who will be utilizing its services.

In addition to this safe space for educational development, sporting development is also taking spotlight. The community’s pool is currently under rehabilitation and the basketball court is being upgraded, with the construction of a changing room. In the past, Kwakwani has produced both national basketball players and national swimmers. “That is a big plus for us, for years the pool was down and we lost out a lot because of that but we are very pleased now that the pool will be up and running,” Lewis said.

In addition, recreational facilities are being upgraded. The Kwakwani Workers’ Club, which can be deemed the heart of Kwakwani, was said to be in a deteriorated state for way too long. Major repair works to this club are ongoing and are being done by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Member of Parliament, Audwin Rutherford, who has responsibility for Kwakwani, commended the government for intervening, in bringing back this club to its former glory. “The Workers’ club was the pride of the people of Kwakwani…that was their centre piece and if that was looking bad, it meant the entire community was looking bad but that is being changed now,” he said.

He also highlighted several other projects that are ongoing in Kwakwani at this time such as: the upgrades to the Kwakwani Secondary School and the extension to the Kwakwani Primary School, the construction of a community pavilion to facilitate outdoor functions, the rehabilitation of the main access road in Kwakwani and the rehabilitation of the Linden to Kwakwani trail.

Just a few miles from Kwakwani, development is very much evident in the community of Ituni.

Community Development Officer (CDC) Keisha Griffith – McKane, related that the efforts to empower residents are what stand out for her and for the residents. Recently training in animal and plant husbandry was completed by the Ministry of Agriculture and a shade house will be given to the CDC, to contribute to the agriculture sector of Ituni. “If we grow our own food, we won’t have to buy from the vans at prices we can’t afford, so the CDC is planning to employ persons to sell it back to the community at a reasonable cost,” she related. This initiative will not only provide jobs but residents will be able to eat what is grown in their community and with the extra money saved from buying less expensive vegetables can be used to better their lives in other areas.

The women’s group has also embarked on a sewing project, where they will be supplying the community’s students with uniforms. This was done for them to attend school for the start of the term. Materials for the uniforms were donated to the group by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valerie Yearwood.

For the other communities located up the Berbice River, one major contribution to their development was the purchasing of a river ambulance by the Regional Democratic Council. The ambulance has significantly improved the health services for those residents, according the Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, Gordon Calendar. When the need arises, the ambulance stationed at Kwakwani swiftly transports sick residents to Kwakwani, to be treated at the Kwakwani hospital. The efficiency of this ambulance has prompted the RDC to also purchase an ambulance to serve communities up the Demerara River. This contract has already been tendered for, according to Calendar.