The US-based East Canje Reunion and Family Fun Day Group recently donated US$1,000 to help continue the development of the Reliance Crematorium at East Canje, Berbice.
The reunion group made the donation to the Reliance Crematorium Committee, which it praised for working to develop the crematorium site.
At a simple presentation ceremony, Devin Sookraj, the liaison between the reunion group and the crematorium committee, read an open letter from the group praising the committee’s efforts.
“We, the members of the East Canje Reunion and Family Fun Day Group have decided to donate US$1,000 to your committee in East Canje for the upgrading of the Reliance Crematorium,” it said. “Our organisation here in New York is very proud of your team for identifying and working on projects in the best interest of East Canje and its residents,” the group also said in the letter and concluded by applauding the efforts of the committee to rehabilitate the crematorium and pledged the reunion group’s continued support.
Since its formation, the Reliance Crematorium Com-mittee has worked to rehabilitate and enhance the crematorium and its facilities.
Most notable among the achievements of the committee was its collaboration with the Region 6 Regional Demo-cratic Council to rebuild an access road to the cemetery and crematorium. For years, the access road was in a deplorable state, posing significant challenges for persons trying to gain access to the cemetery and crematorium.
However, after being approached by the committee earlier this year, the Region 6 Administration readily agre-ed to assist in the rehabilitation of the road, and to date has completed that task.
The committee was also able to raise funds to begin building washrooms, which are currently under construction at the crematorium site.
A new pavilion, which would allow residents desirous of holding memorial services, is in the planning phase.
According to a member of the committee, the donation received from the reunion group will go towards completing the washroom facilities and starting the new pavilion.
Representatives of the East Canje Lions Club and Reliance Crematorium Com-mittee as well as other residents of East Canje, all joined in thanking the East Canje Reunion and Family Fun Day Group for the timely donation.
Sookraj also repeated the call for residents to take time to clear and beautify the surroundings of their buried loved ones, not only at the Reliance Cemetery, but at all cemeteries.
The crematorium at Reliance East Canje is one of three in East Berbice.
