The Indigenous community of Akawini located in Pomeroon River, Region 2 – Pomeroon-Supenaam has benefitted from a Food for the Poor (FFTP) community development project valued at $42M.
According to a press release from Government Information Agency (GINA), the Food for the Poor Project which was commissioned on Wednesday, would allow the village of 900 residents to benefit from the construction of 27 homes, four cassava mills and two cargo/passenger boats.
The community development initiative was said to have been the brainchild of former toshao of the village, Rudolph Wilson. However, the project in which Food for the Poor invested, took the form of a collaborative venture with the residents of the community.
During the commissioning ceremony, the Govern-ment’s representative, Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe told the gathering, “This is not the first time that Food for the Poor has assisted any community, they have assisted many communities across Guyana and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs is grateful.”
Further, Lowe told the residents the project has given them the opportunity to be more self-sufficient and encouraged them to “take it to the next level” by allowing the items to benefit all of the community.
FTTP’s Chief Executive Officer, Kent Vincent said the organisation was happy to have made a contribution to the improvement of the community’s living standards and the FFTP will continue to embark on similar initiatives in other communities.
Initially the FFTP performed a needs assessment for the project in 2013 into 2014 based on a request received from Toshao Wilson, the Senior Projects Manager at FFTP, Andrea Benjamin said. Further, she expressed hope that efforts will be made to sustain the project which the FFTP deemed as an investment in the community to enhance the lives of the peoples.
Newly appointed Regional Chairman and Toshao, Davenand Ramdatt and David Wilson respectively both express-ed their gratitude to the FFTP.
