Bartica residents to benefit from new $62M community centre

–facility remains in hands of the people, says Presidential Advisor Lumumba

PRESIDENTIAL Advisor on Community Development, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, has announced at the 48th Independence flag raising ceremony held in Region Seven on Sunday, that the new Bartica Community Centre will now be of service to residents in the community.The facility, which will be used for sporting activities will be controlled, maintained, secured and managed by a management committee from the Region that will be headed by the Regional Executive Officer in Bartica.

The initial cost of the building was $54M, but $8M more is required to cater for some sanitary blocks and other minor works. However, Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, who in the past visited the centre along with Lumumba, provided the remaining funds from her pocket for the completion of the centre, Lumumba said.
“I said to the REO and the Regional Chairman that he must come up with a plan for the rehabilitation of the playground so we will look at the playground this year and 2015 so that we can have a proper playground so that you can play football, cricket, hockey and any other sport that is deemed necessary and appropriate,” Lumumba told the gathering.

He assured that the Government will continue to respond to the needs of the residents.
“We have constructed two outposts in Bartica. There has also been the completion of two roads and work will soon commence on river defence,” the Presidential Advisor stated.

He noted that the Bartica – Potaro road has been a complex issue, but it must be dealt with. Government will continue to build proper roads from Bartica to Potaro especially one to ‘Five Mile’, he said.

Lumumba added that he has been assured by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, and Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, that this year there will be attempts to complete the concrete drains alongside the roads and construct asphaltic roads.

(GINA)