Food for the Poor calls for support

Jul 04, 2016 News

Kent Vincent, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Food for the Poor (Guyana) is calling on businesses and individuals to continue to support the organization as it continues to assist the poorest of the poor.

Vincent made this plea, two Saturdays ago, at a gala dinner held at Pegasus in observance of FFTP 25^th Anniversary in Guyana.

While FFTP (Guyana) is supported in part by FFTP, Florida, USA, Vincent pointed out that the organisation greatly depends on fundraisers and the generosity of local donors in order to finance operations to fulfill its mission.

“We thank God for FFTP in Florida. And to the donors who are also generous to us here in Guyana. We are also very thankful to the local donors who continue to open their hearts to the poor.”

“I cannot over emphasize the need for increased support from local companies here in Guyana and individuals so that we are able to contribute to what we do. We need your help. The more we get…the more we are able to help those that we are serving.”

The CEO recalled that the organization was awarded with the Medal of Service by the Government of Guyana for the excellent service they have been providing to the poor.

However, FFTP, Guyana’s largest non-governmental organization has also been securing the release of non violent prisoners.

During Easter and Christmas each year, FFTP would request from the Ministry of Public Security a list of persons who have been incarcerated because of their inability to pay their fines.

This is according to the organization’s Chairman Paul Chan-A-Sue.

He was also a speaker at the silver jubilee celebrations.

He said that the effort targets persons who have been jailed for minor offences. This project has been ongoing for the past 10 to 15 years.

Chan-A-Sue explained that prisoners have expressed happiness in working with FFTP because the organization gives them an opportunity to secure their freedom.

In addition, the Chairman said that the not for profit organization has also been helping inmates of the New Amsterdam Prison in Berbice. He added that he was prompted to launch an investigation at the prison, after a female complained about harsh conditions under which she was incarcerated.

The woman’s plight, he said, was published in a daily newspaper article.

“She didn’t say nice things about the prison in New Amsterdam. I asked a young man in Berbice to see what he could do and find out the truth of the matter. I’m very happy to say that the young man went in there and they (the prisoners) needed things that we would have provided. In addition to that, they needed fans which the young man was able to get from the communities in New Amsterdam.”

However, Chan-A-Sue pointed out that while the FFTP has been helping the poor, they still have to pay millions of dollars to the Guyana Revenue Authority, Customs and the Food and Drug Department for goods they would bring into the country to distribute.

FFTP also manages a variety of development projects aimed at transforming communities. Some of these include water projects; animal husbandry; solar electricity; tilapia farming and livestock rearing.

FFTP has formed 18 committees consisting of 8300 members across Guyana, Chan-A-Sue said, while adding that they are still trying to establish committees in Regions One and Eight.

He said that they are currently looking to embark on bigger projects but are seeking persons to spearhead them.

“It’s no sense us going in there start it up all the way and there is no management. Several of those things have failed where we have tried…but it doesn’t stop us. We are in aquaculture, we have shade houses and there are many other things we are looking at.”

The NGO has been operational in 17 countries around the world.

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Food for the Poor calls for support

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