Residents in the village of Monkey Mountain in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) will soon benefit from the operation of a lapidary, as construction moves apace.
The Region Eight gem lapidary under construction
The establishment of the lapidary will see jewellery, ornaments and exotic furniture being produced from the semi-precious stones which can be found in abundance on the plains of the North Pakaraimas. Among them, crystals, amethyst, volcanic, jasper and agate gemstones, and once retrieved and processed will produce several unique pieces. The 40’x 20’ facility will boast a workshop, exhibit area, washrooms and a security area.
Earlier this year, Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe held a meeting with the residents of the community to discuss the location of the facility. The Minister noted that with the establishment of the state-of-the-art facility is part of the administration aim to empower the residents of the community.
Some of the semi-precious stones found in the Pakaraimas
There is a tourism aspect to the project which will allow visitors to go on excursions in search of the semi-precious stones themselves and observe the process from the moment the semi-precious minerals are collected to completion of the final product.
Cooperative Development Officer attached to Social Protection Ministry, Scott Bar-Jones explained that he will play a vital role in monitoring the facility, once it is commissioned. “This initiative will not only generate income for the people of Monkey Mountain but will provide an opportunity for the youths within this community,” Bar-Jones said.
Denni Abraham, a resident told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the establishment of the lapidary, “will do a lot of good for the young people of Monkey Mountain… I know that they are excited.”
Another resident, Andrea Stanislaus, said: “I am happy to know that we have the lab going being built and I know that it will be helpful for us, my children and grands, also and so I am thankful for it.”
Kato, Kurukubaru, Maikwak and Tuseneng are the four other villages set to benefit since semi-precious stones can also be found in these communities.
