FOR indigenous communities in riverine areas of Guyana, structurally sound stellings are critical. This need is emphasised for areas such as Orealla in Berbice, that have a high influx of visitors and are located along economic hotspots.

On Saturday, Orealla became the latest community to benefit through the government’s efforts to enhance infrastructure in hinterland communities with the commissioning of an $11Million stelling.

In an invited comment, Toshao Carl Peneux summed up the significant occasion for the community.

“Small and large boats can now moor and so we can get our lumber, we can get our farm produce… whatever they [the residents of Orealla] bring from the coast can be [offloaded] quite easily here,” he explained.

Toshao Peneux noted that added feature of a shed covering the stelling is an asset for the residents, particularly during heavy rainfall.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon. David Patterson remarked that every step of the project was done with the community in mind. “For all the work that we did, all of the material was purchased from Orealla,” he related.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure deems it necessary that contractors operating in Indigenous communities utilise local resources – human and/or materials.
In conjunction with the project, river defence works were also executed which entailed the construction of 30 metres of Gabion Mattress Slope.

Accompanying Minister Patterson was Minister of Public Security the Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Hon. Catherine Hughes.
The ministers held a community engagement to update residents on government projects and to address issues and concerns. (DPI)