A $29.5 million multipurpose centre, built by the Ministry of Housing in La Parfait Harmonie and handed over to the Goed Fortuin Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) more than a year ago to be used by the community’s residents, stands idle and overrun with bushes.
Residents claimed that the centre was completed early last year, but since then, it was left unattended, while grass took over its lawns.
According to one of the residents of the area, who wished to remain anonymous, it really is a disgrace to the community. “It really doesn’t serve any purpose right now, all I know is that they finish building the thing since early last year and leave it there for a long time. Grass was growing high in there and cows use to graze right there and after that they come to fence it and lock it up.”
The purpose of the centre was to promote social cohesion among the residents of the developing housing scheme.
“I thought that this place was for the residents to go and play cricket and other games but right now it is a white elephant because it is a long time since it is at this stage and I really don’t know when we are going to get access to it,” another concerned resident stated.
Another resident said she thought it would be best to take that allotted money and spend it on the development of children’s education.
In a recent interview with Stabroek Sport, Director of Sport Neil Kumar mentioned that since the handing over no events had been held at the centre.
Kumar said it was up to the NDC to open the centre to the community since it was the NDC it was handed over to.
During the interview Kumar contacted Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony via telephone and was told by the minister that he had not received any recent update on the centre from M L Hussein who is the NDC chairman. When Stabroek Sport tried to contact Hussein efforts were futile.
Kumar mentioned that he was later given full responsibility to take over the project since Anthony realised that not much work was done by the NDC.
When Stabroek Sport spoke with Kumar on another occasion he stated that he would visit the centre.
“I will go there and draw up the necessary lines to play basketball, football and stuff so children could get to use it since that is what it was built for,” Kumar stated.
That was months ago. To date nothing has been done at the centre.
