A $29.5M multi-purpose centre at Area C Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, was commissioned last week by Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali who called it another physical demonstration of the commitment of the Government to the people of Guyana.
This is the third of four multi-purpose centres and Minister Ali announced the ministry’s commitment to upgrading the playfield and constructing the fence, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release.
And acknowledging government’s understanding of the magnitude of the problems facing the residents of Cummings Lodge and Sophia, Ali announced the commissioning of an $80M well that would benefit the more than 5000 residents of the East Coast communities. Testing on that facility was scheduled to begin over the weekend.
He announced also the impending construction of the market tarmac, which is intended to bring the vendors who currently vend on the road into a more structured environment.
GINA said further that since 2000, government has expended more than $2B in Cummings Lodge and Sophia, and is expected to invest millions more in the upgrade of the road networks and other facilities.
According to Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, this shows government’s community-based development approach.
Dharamlall underscored the importance of facilities like these in emerging communities, noting its importance to social cohesion and the propagation of community pride and spirit.
And Parliamentary Secre-tary, Ministry of Housing and Water Philomena Sahoye-Shury, called on the residents to demonstrate unity of purpose as the precursor to social development.
Also present at the commissioning were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Hous-ing and Water, Emil McGarrell, head, Technical Section, Delegation of the European Union, the funding agents, Christopher Inglebrecht, Chief Executive Officer, Central Housing and Planning Authority Myrna Pitt, and residents of the Cummings Lodge C Field community, the release added.
