Sod turned for construction of Guyana’s first CDC facility in Linden

A sod-turning exercise on Wednesday has signalled the construction of the first Community Development Council (CDC) facility to be erected in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).

The facility will be named after former Assistant National Director of CDCs, the late Sandra Adams, and will be constructed at Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie.
Speaking at the sod-turning exercise which was attended by numerous officials, National Director of CDCs, Eugene Gilbert, stressed the importance of CDCs having a facility in which administrative and marketing functions can be executed. He recalled having, in 2016, discussions with the late Adams regarding the setting up of the first such facility in Guyana.
After efforts were made to acquire the land in Linden, he said, the process of negotiation with the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to officially acquire the land was then executed.
Fast forward, Gilbert said, this process has since been completed and the design and construction companies have already been consulted.
“We’ve basically completed all the procedures relating to NICIL’s consummating the arrangement”, he announced.
Gilbert added that resources have also been gathered, and he explained that much of these resources came from contributions from various CDCs and corporate entities and individuals.He said a full financial statement of this will be made available. Nevertheless, he noted that in excess of $5 million dollars still has to be raised to offset construction of the facility.
Some of the resources gathered, Gilbert further stated, were also set aside to facilitate training exercises in areas such as project evaluation and monitoring. “In order for you to be sustainable, training in these areas has become critical. And we hope that this Centre will be a focal point at which many of these activities will take place”, he told CDC officials.
In her remarks, Minister with responsibility for CDCs, Valerie Adams- Yearwood, said the initiative is a very good one, and will serve as a reminder of all the hard work put in by her late sister, Sandra Adams.
“This was a ‘baby’ for the late Sandra Adams. Every day she spoke about having this CDC Office… Currently, we don’t have a location of our own, and she was always concerned that, as a CDC, we shouldn’t be borrowing space…but the CDC should be independent; and because of that, this initiative…she has not lived to see this reality, but even though she is not here in body, I know she is here in the spirit… I want to say to the CDC groups, let us see this building become a reality! I appeal to corporate Guyana to help us to make this facility a reality”, the minister stated.
Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian, in his remarks, applauded the strides made by the late Adams and the work done in relation to the development of CDCs. He noted that it has set the foundation for such development. “I’m happy that the Government supports the endeavours and the works that we’re doing going forward. I look forward to see local faces on this construction…” Morian said.
Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell pointed to Linden having many “firsts” as it relates to community development. She also applauded the contributions of the late Adams.