Digicel-sponsored Mahaica Children’s home nearing completion

Jan 31, 2013 News

Works on a multi-million-dollar structure to house the Mahaica Children’s Home is just over 60 per cent completed and officials of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the financier, Digicel Guyana, are optimistic that the facility could become inhabitable in a matter of months.

An external view of the new children’s home under construction.

During a media tour of the facility, situated at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, the site was abuzz with activity as workmen scurried around adding the crucial final touches to the various sections of the sprawling structure which has an unmistakable modern flair.
With a capacity to house the more than 60 children currently accommodated in an older building a stone’s throw away, the new structure will include a number of features, some of which are not customarily found in local children’s homes.
Aside from a kitchen, washroom and rooms for the children and house mothers, the facility will also entail a recreation room as well as a play area.
Once the new structure is completed the old one will be demolished said Minister of Social Security Jennifer Webster as she along with Digicel officials toured the facility yesterday. She said that the idea is that “we are looking to have a modern state of the art home for our children who are housed here at Mahaica many of whom were abused.” Moreover, she said that efforts will be made to improve the quality of care that is currently provided which will entail the provision of more care givers in more rounded facilities that cater to more opportunities for those within their care. She noted too, that while all of the children are attending school there are plans to ensure that they are furnished with extra-curricular activities.
This move, she said, is intended to ensure that they become more rounded citizens as they grow older.
Although faced by a stone shortage in its early stage, construction works on the facility commenced on August 3, last year by R and D Engineering Inc. According to Minister Webster yesterday, although she is pleased that the facility is moving along at a satisfactory pace “we don’t want the contractor to lower the quality and standard of the work being done so that we will have a structure that is done properly and we look forward to the completion.”

Minister Jennifer Webster (left) Digicel Officials and a representative of the contracting firm Compton Horatio (centre) tour the facility.

Also expressing satisfaction about the pace of work was Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James, who said “our main concern is to get the children in and to ensure that they are safe and comfortable…so we are gearing towards that…”
She too alluded to the importance of having a good structure, adding that it is anticipated that it will be in keeping with world standards as well as health and safety requirements. “So we have to put all of that into place to ensure that when the children move in they are comfortable and safe and this is home for them.”
Digicel, according to her, will complete the project in its entirety even providing the needful furnishing and landscaping. According to her “there will be continued work on the property itself because it is not just a home…you have to look at landscaping and putting in extra-curricular activities so we will be setting up a play area and outdoor activities for the children.
“We are going to ensure that in the next phase the property itself is well taken care of…” added James.