A $16 million lapidary facility was commissioned on Friday at Monkey Mountain in the North Pakaraimas, Region Eight.
The facility is expected to be used to produce jewellery using semi-precious stones which can be found in abundance on the plains of the Pakaraimas and Monkey Mountain and neighbouring villages, including Tuseneng, Taruka, Kurukabaru and Mikwak, are expected to benefit
A Department of Public Information (DPI) report on the commissioning noted that the facility is the first of its kind to be established in the region and to be owned and operated by Indigenous Guyanese.