Georgetown: Minister of Human Services and Social Security Jennifer Webster has expressed gratitude to the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for playing a significant role in bringing to reality the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, located at Onverwagt, Region Five.
In her address at the commissioning of the centre today, Minister Webster said the proposal for the construction of the shelter was a Guyana initiative “with the objective of aggressively addressing the issue of those less fortunate persons within our society who for a multiplicity of reasons are forced to make the streets their home.”
The Guyana Government sought the assistance of Venezuela in providing the resources to fund this project, and that country subsequently provided the sum of US$2 million. The Government of Guyana provided funding to the tune of $100 million. As a result, the centre was named after the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
“This kind gesture not only demonstrated the late Hugo Chavez Frias’ love for humanity, but his unreserved commitment in providing a sense of hope and belonging for the poor and the vulnerable and the disadvantaged members of our society,” she said.
Construction on the huge shelter began in January 2010, but was not completed earlier due to some unforeseen circumstances.
“I am proud to say that this magnificent edifice would accommodate 100 males and 80 females and will include medical, recreational, kitchen, conference, training and dining facilities. The centre will also provide land, which will be utilised gainfully in agricultural production pursuits by residents of the centre. The centre endeavours to transform the lives of its occupants so as to enable them to become disciplined and productive members of society. I hope that we could continue to benefit from the best practices of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the initiation of the activities of the Centre, particularly in the form of training and expertise of its personnel in this area.”
In concluding, she said that the shelter stands as a tangible expression of the firm friendship and cooperation between the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela.
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