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New roadway in Region Two a product of ‘self help labour’
The Wakapoa community in Region Two achieved a major feat with the construction of a critically needed roadway to facilitate safe passage between three of its islands – Waipaqua, Yarashima and Myrie.
The Wakapoa Health Post for the community is located on Waipaqua and could only be accessed by boat or on a dangerous narrow foot path. Hence, the aim of the project was to provide easy access to this primary location from the other islands, Yarashima and Myrie, where the majority of the population in Wakapoa resides.
‘Lesley’s Memory Lane’ being utilised by students and other members of the Wakapoa community.
According to Mr. Seaford Fredericks, elder of the Waipaqua Village, the construction of this critically needed roadway had been a major goal of the community for more than two decades but did not materialise because of the absence of funds.
However, the project was finally initiated when Lesley Allenby, U.S Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to the Wakapoa Health Post, formulated a plan to address the situation. After meeting with village leaders, she solicited the services of U.S. non-governmental organization, Builders Beyond Borders (B3), with its labour team of high school students to come to Guyana to work alongside villagers on the construction of the road which commenced in February last.
Assistance and funding for the project were provided by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Peace Corps Guyana, US non-governmental organisation Builders Beyond Borders (B3), Digicel Guyana and Friends and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Guyana (FROG).
The new roadway, which now carries the name “Lesley’s Memory Lane” was constructed with locally logged wood and materials, mostly without the use of machinery. Villagers and students pulled logs with ropes and carried sand bags through swamped savannahs to the project site to develop the 518-metre (1,700ft) road from Waipaqua to Myrie and the 366m (1,200ft) road from Waipaqua to Yarashima.
At the recent official opening of the road, thanks were extended to Lesley Allenby for her commitment and hard work and to the people of Wakapoa in the form of a plaque.
Region Two Vice-Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, speaking on behalf of the regional administration described the project as the largest ever undertaken by the community and extended thanks to the contributors and the villagers.
Region Two Executive Officer Sunil Singh; Executive Director of Builders, Amy Schroeder-Riggio; Flavio Rose of U.S. Peace Corps Guyana; and B3 Directors Steve Lewine and Tony Sanfilippo were also present at the ceremony.
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