2 struggling Berbice mothers get new homes for Christmas

…“This is what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is” – President Ali

Two struggling mothers on Christmas Day each received from President Dr Irfaan Ali brand new, fully-furnished homes through the Men On Mission (MOM) initiative.
A new and furnished house located at Bloomfield, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was presented by President Ali as a Christmas gift to Rominia Benedict, 29; her husband Parmannand Drepaul, 38, and the couple’s six children. The initiative to get the family a new house was undertaken by MOM, which is spearheaded by the President, who learnt of Benedict’s struggles through an article published by Guyana Times on December 18, 2022.

The President thanked the contractor for what he called a “fine job”.
“This concrete, this fence, this entire building was done in six days… this contractor has shown that with what he is blessed with he can give back to society. This is what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is about. When many businessmen across the country called to be a part of the Men On Mission programme, this is exactly what we want to do,” the Head of State said.
On December 18, Guyana Times published Benedict’s story, in which she appealed for assistance to ensure she and her children had some comfort for Christmas.
In the story, which was also aired by the Evening News and appeared on iNews, Benedict said she had been living in a small tent that was not large enough for the family to sleep in comfortably.

Additionally, financial constraints made it difficult for the children to be adequately provided for; many times they went without meals.
“It is easy to write about a problem, but solving the problem and taking the challenge to fix the problem is far different from writing about the problem,” President Ali said, while pointing out that it was one example that shows the oneness of the Guyanese people. He noted that while it was his initiative, the house was built by a single individual and furnished by another.

He referred to the project as being a good example of the Government and the Private Sector partnering.
Benedict expressed gratitude to all those who supported her since her story was made public while also thanking the President.
Meanwhile, her husband, while expressing the same sentiments, was asked what he had to say to the public knowing that he had been recently involved in activity which was not approved by society.
“It is not that I wanted to do it… the frustration, but the Almighty has blessed us,” he said.

Police on the East Bank of Berbice were on the hunt for Drepaul after he went into his neighbour’s home during a dispute, and choked and slapped the pensioner. He then took a piece of wood and lashed her husband who was also in the house.
At the magistrate’s court, the assaulted couple asked to settle the issue, saying that Drepaul had plenty children. However, after being released, Drepaul went home and assaulted his parents and after being arrested, allegedly assaulted a Police Officer who was transporting him and escaped. He was subsequently fined and released upon payment.

Mother of three
Meanwhile, President Ali – who was accompanied by regional parliamentarian Zulfikar Mustapha, who is also the Agriculture Minister; Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall; Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh – on Christmas Day also presented a new house to Wendy Williams, a mother of three.
The house is situated at the new housing scheme at Belvedere.
Williams had reached out to President Ali after her husband died in a rice field when the tractor he was operating turned over, pinning him in the mud.
President Ali had also promised to have Williams enrolled in the Government’s $40,000 10-day part-time employment initiative. The house for Williams was also undertaken under MOM. (G4)