$13.6M contract signed for new North Sophia community centre
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development on Friday signed a $13.6 million contract with the North Sophia Community Development Council (CDC) to develop a community centre.
According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry Prema Ramahah-Roopnarine and Chairman of the CDC Uriah France signed the contract at the North Sophia playground on Friday afternoon.
The report said the execution of the project will be undertaken solely by members of the community with supervision from the ministry. Labour and materials for the project will also be sourced from within the community, in keeping with the government’s stated commitment to providing employment opportunities for all.
Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall delivered remarks at the signing and he said part of President Irfaan Ali’s vision of “One Guyana” is to ensure everyone benefits from the support of government, including employment opportunities.
The report noted that apart from the construction of the centre, persons will be employed as community enhancement workers shortly.
“People must also benefit in terms of the employment landscape. In North Sophia and many other communities, we have quite a lot of unemployed people or underemployed persons. So, we would like Mr. Chairman that quite a lot of these youngsters within the community, whether male or female that you are contracted, you’re given a job on this project, you’re going to be paid,” Dharamlall was quoted as saying.
He said that the project is the biggest government investment that will be executed at the community level and the CDC must provide the government with names of persons who are employed on the project.
“It can’t be people from outside the constituency, it got to be people from this area and I am sure they have a lot of skilled people as well as people who deserve to work,” the minister added.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs Kwame McCoy, also spoke at the signing and noted that during past government outreaches to the community, residents raised the need for a community centre to be established for the younger generation to benefit educationally and socially.
McCoy stressed the government’s commitment to the development of every Guyanese. “We are committed to your development, we are committed to working with you, it doesn’t stop here, it will continue but as I said we need everyone of you in this community onboard and we need you to be onboard as a community in a united fashion,” he said.
Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond also shared similar sentiments and said the centre will provide a safe space for children.
Meanwhile, France, the chairman of the CDC, commended the government for delivering on its promise and assured that everyone will be involved in the execution of the project.
France urged members of his community to come and work together and do what’s best for the development of their community.