New Horizons 2019 hands over Blue Berry Hill Community Centre

Aug 23, 2019 News

Director General Joseph Harmon, at the handing over ceremony of the newly built Community Centre at Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, Linden, by the New Horizons 2019, told residents, “These Community Centres must be made into dynamic and viable entities to fulfill their roles as catalyst for community development and citizen empowerment!”
He added, “These things are done within a framework of good governance and with a respect for the rule of law, and the fact that Government wants to build each community, step by step.”
Harmon, who was standing in for President David Granger, thanked the diaspora association, the local private sector Corporation and international organizations, who collaborated to see the venture to fruition; and expressed the hope, that they would become more involved, with the operations of these centres and provide continued support.
Harmon reflected on another initiative at Richmond Hill, which saw the erection of a Welcome sign by that community’s CDC and alluded to the new community Centre, said that, that also would be led and managed by the CDC (Blue Berry Hill), and that those were tangible “manifestations”, of what CDCs do.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are on the right track…and development is seen all across this country…not just in Georgetown …not just in one place!”
Harmon thanked New Horizons 2019 for the work done, the government and people of Guyana, and especially the people of Linden.
“We had a vision that was established, and now we have the reality which brings to the citizens of this area, something that will improve the quality of their lives!” he declared.
Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West, expressed appreciation, for the tangible support, extended by the United States Military, for improved and continuous bilateral arrangements that manifest tangibly “in moments like these”. Alluding to a quote by Minister Faith Mcqumbai of the ANC, which says “Together we can do more”, West posited, that New Horizons 2019, epitomizes what the quote really means, since more was done through coordination and cooperation, between our military and other agencies.
He added that more was done, with the community Centre, and that this would now have a huge social impact, as more cohesive societies are built in the near future.
He thanked the team as well as the Guyana Defence Force for the successful collaborations, and expressed optimism for more of this.
Major General, Andrew Croal, of the United States Air Force, said that New Horizons began in the 1980’s, and is an annual exercise, which train military civil engineers and medical professionals, to deploy and conduct joint operations.
Since its inception, he pointed out, US Service members, working under US Southern Command, has built schools, clinics and community Centres; and has supplied medical and surgical care in South and Latin America and Caribbean countries.
He however acknowledged that the team is more than just an engineering and medical exercise. The members aim to work side by side with partnering nations and forge lasting partnerships.
New Horizons is not new to Guyana, he reminded.
The Major General expressed satisfaction with all the team was able to accomplish on this mission.
Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindel, said that it was truly an honour to stand and see a project that commenced two years ago, “come to a magnificent conclusion”, more so, not a conclusion, but a beginning of a new era.
“The onus is on us to reflect where we came from,” she challenged.
She singled out Councillors Elize Benjamin and Fern McCoy, who she said stood to defend why both Amelia’s Ward and Blue Berry Hill needed community centres.
The Mayor also pointed out that a team from Guyana, went over to the United States, to sit with the planning team to ensure that the “site fit in” with what the community wanted.
She added, further, that for years, Linden has been extremely fortunate to benefit from the generosity of the US Embassy.
She expressed gratitude for these interventions.
The New Horizons 2019 built a “Safe Haven” at Richmond Hill, three community Centres including one at Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway.
Hundreds of Lindeners and residents from neighbouring communities also benefitted from medical interventions provided by the team, which consisted of five hundred US military personnel, who spent almost five months in Linden.

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