Digicel Guyana has donated $4 million to four less-fortunate families as part of its 4th anniversary celebrations.
CEO of Digicel Guyana Incorporated Gregory Dean yesterday stated that the company wanted to do something different this year and so it decided to help four persons, in line with its fourth anniversary. It was revealed by Public Relations Manager Shonette Moore that the recipients were chosen from those who wrote to the company within the past month, soliciting help, as well as with the help of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
The first recipient was Krishna Sohanlall, 14, who suffers from a congenital heart defect and needs aortic valve replacement. Digicel presented Krishna and his grandmother with a cheque for $1 million some time during the past week. Krishna left for India on Friday for surgery.
Meanwhile, the first recipient during the anniversary handovers yesterday was Savitri Singh, of Lot 29 Fort Street, Kingston, who received $500,000. When asked how she felt about receiving the surprise gift, the single mother-of-four said, “I feel proud and very happy.” Explaining her situation, the woman explained that she has a thyroid condition. “I does deh on the road and ask for a little help,” she said, while explaining that she uses the handouts to assist in sending her children to school.
Singh continued that because of her condition, she has to undergo surgery. However, she has to wait as she is now recovering from a previous stomach surgery. She promised that she will put the money she received to good use. Sandy Accra, 30, of 943 Twenty-first Street, Parfait Harmonie, was presented with $500,000. Accra, a single parent mother
of five, received what she deemed “a blessing from above” as a result of her 13-year-old son, Keron, who solicited help from the Ministry of Human Services.
According to the family, at Keron’s plea, the ministry built a house for them in Parfait Harmonie. However, the house had no furniture but the family was fortunate that Digicel sought out the ministry to identify some less fortunate persons whom it could help. Sandy Accra, with tears in her eyes, thanked the Digicel representatives and the Director of the Child Protection Agency Ann Greene. “Many days, I had nothing …sometimes, I had to give the children water alone but they are very contented. I wanna thank ya’ll for making this come through for me. Life as a single parent is not easy. I thank God for Miss Greene, ’cause when I didn’t have nothing, I would go to her and she would help me,” she said. When asked what she intended to do with the money, the former Tiger Bay resident said that she will put it to good use in a way that will “keep my head above the water.”
At Bare Root, on the East Coast Demerara, homeless mother-of-six Leslyn Williams, 43, known in the community as “Precious,” was the recipient of $2 million. Williams, whose eldest child is 15 years old and her youngest six years old, was living in a dilapidated building which is now in shambles. As a result, she and her children have taken up temporary residence at the home of one of her neighbours.
The unemployed woman explained her current state as being as a result of her being sick three times in this month. When asked her feelings on being a Digicel recipient, Williams stated that “I feel nice. Thank God.”
She said that she would have to “study my head first” before using the money and expressed her wish to go back to her home. However, she later told this newspaper that that she plans on investing her money in her own business, so as to always have financial security.
