– Sheriff Hospital on track for December
Residents within the community of Palmyra, Corentyne are very excited about the major construction projects underway such as for a shopping mall, hospital, new housing scheme and stadium.
While the residents have been battling dust from the construction sites resulting in them having to clean multiple times per day, they believe in the greater good of the development which is expected to boost the region economically.
Lealawattye Adram, 61, who recently returned to Palmyra after living twenty years overseas, explained that she now also feels a sense of security as the area which was previously populated with cane fields and often used by bandits as their escape route after pouncing on community members, has now been cleared as a result of the ongoing construction.
She said, “When I look out I can see straight over and I feel so much better and so much safer, I’m not scared no more… For me, I am happy about it because it will get a hospital closer, a stadium closer so I’m looking forward to it.”
However, Adram said that they have been battling the dust and are forced to clean several times daily. “Yes, it’s a sacrifice we are making because we want the development but this place here never clean, two, three times a day me a clean, me had to go buy a pressure wash just for that.”
Adram stated that she is extremely happy to have returned to Guyana and never thought that her area would see such massive development.
“This area used to be just cane, this right now me just happy… I never, never expect this… When them start talk about this thing, that them go build stadium me say me might dead and me might not see it but when me see them start for clear up and grade up, me say oh my God, I’m so happy. I said this happening, I couldn’t a believe that so fast”, she said.
Kasseena Somra Razac, 25, who operates a clothing business called ‘Modern Modesty’, in Palmyra, said that she is extremely happy as well about what is to come with the development.
According to her, she is anticipating that with the number of persons that will visit from around Guyana along with tourists her small business will boom. “I am looking forward to the high flow of customers.”
Touching on the development at Palmyra, she said, “It’s nice to see somewhere that was just bushes and cane turn into something beautiful being done.”
She also noted the dust and explained that it is very terrible for the villagers and customers. She said, that she reached out to the Environmental Protection Agency after which the contractors soaked the roads and cleaned the road shoulders.
Razac stressed that she believes the contractors at the location can be much more accountable, “Yes with development there is a little bit of inconvenience but contractors can do so much better.”
Nevertheless, she stressed, that “I’m still excited about the development. It’s such a great initiative.”
Turning to the Sheriff Hospital which is being constructed at the location, the young businesswoman noted that it is an extreme inconvenience to have to travel to Georgetown for some health services. As such she is very much looking forward to this.
Left out
“We does feel left out so it feels so nice to know we are included as well. The amount of customers we are expecting and based on what the government has said, the economic boom, an expansion is in the works for us as well, so we are developing over here while they are developing over there.”
Yadram, 43, who rides through the Palmyra Area on his way to work, said that he often stops and check in on the works ongoing. “I does live Seawell (next to Palmyra) so when I’m riding past I does stop and see how far them gone. I never expect them to do this, we very happy for this.”
Another Palmyra resident, Eslyn Singh, stated that “It’s good development, it’s okay and we happy for it. We heard it couple well years back but then nothing ever happen and then when this government said they gonna do it we start seeing it.”
She also noted the dust adding that “we’re trying to take it easy and keep cleaning. I don’t know what intervention they can do, maybe they can help us with the cleaning because each and everything is sheer dust.”
According to Singh, who has lived in Palmyra for over thirty years, she is excited about all of the construction “cause everything they building over there will be of use, everything… It’s a nice village to live in, people here good and now all this development happening.”
In March, 2023, President Irfaan Ali launched the construction of a $3.7 billion stadium and multipurpose facility at Palmyra with funds from the oil companies’ Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), stating that there will be no excuses for not delivering the project on time. It is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
Delivering remarks at the location in front of thousands of Berbicians, Ali said it was a historic day for Berbice and the entire country, as the sod was being turned for transformation and to build an inspiration of hope for generations to come “and we do so with our partners.”
According to the President, the stadium is an important part of an initiative, “to bring a world-class cricketing product that will be competitive to any you see on television… This vision is clear, nothing is going to stop us…”
Region Six is also benefitting from an expansion of the highway to four lanes running from New Amsterdam to Molsen Creek, and water treatment plants which will provide treated water to every household.
In October, 2023, the Sheriff Group of Companies turned the sod at Palmyra, Region Six, for a mall – the first of its kind to be built in Berbice.
The mall will be done in four phases with the first costing some $1.3b.
Managing Director, Ameir Ahmad, at the sod-turning, stressed that the mall will not only redefine the landscape of the community but also contribute to the economic prosperity of the region. “While we stand here on this ground we envision a state-of-the-art mall that will not only serve as a centre of commerce but also a hub” of opportunities for the communities.
The Sheriff Group of Companies is also constructing a three-storey building at Palmyra to house the headquarters for Sheriff Security in the county where they already have some 100 persons on payroll.
The building will also provide a business centre for companies wishing to open operations in the region.
Also, at the Palmyra location, the company is building a Specialty Hospital – an investment which after completion will open up 400 jobs to Berbicians.
Ahmad this week confirmed exclusively to the Stabroek News that the hospital at the location will be opened in December – ultimately being the first development in the area to come into operation.
He explained, that there have been some delays with the mall as they are focused on pushing the hospital to completion and he assured that the projects are all continuing.
Meanwhile, the government is currently developing 100 young professionals houses at the Palmyra location in the first phase.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal late last year in Berbice had told Stabroek News that infrastructure works are ongoing while the actual construction of houses will commence shortly. He stressed, that they are now at the phase where construction can begin.
“That area will be the envy for any living in proximity or even living in because you’ll have a housing development, you already have hospital, stadium, commercial activity, malls, etc., so it’s a complete hybrid of both residential and commercial activities”, he had said.
Cultural market
Last month, President Ali announced that a national cultural market will be established in Palmyra to serve as an educational and talent-showcasing hub inclusive of a safe space for families.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that Ali unveiled this initiative when he joined Guyanese of African descent in Berbice to celebrate the 186th Emancipation Anniversary.
“As we build the new stadium, and as we build facilities around the stadium, and as we build hotels, an important part of why people will come to Region Six is to be part of this national cultural market”, he said.
The market, according to the DPI, is envisioned to encapsulate all facets of the country’s culture, including food, clothing, dance, music, and art. Additionally, the historical context of emancipation and the abolition of slavery is a pivotal part of the initiative.
The Ministry of Public Works has since published a notice for the pre-qualification of contractors for the designing, building and financing of a cultural market at Palmyra.
