Opened to the beating of African drums, the Mark Benschop Centre was launched yesterday at the Court Yard mall on Robb Street.
The Centre aims at developing Guyana’s depressed communities and underprivileged youths through empowerment, education and sport. Chairman Mark Benschop and other members including local Hanes franchise-holder Ron Morrison pledged to assist any person in need.
In his address Benschop described himself as a “humanitarian” who despite all the hardships endured during his five-year imprisonment “is not a bitter person but someone who was willing to change.” He called the opening an emotional occasion saying this venture is due to his new-found belief in God. He said too the Centre has already started operations and had engaged residents in Agricola, Lusignan, Buxton and New Amsterdam. Benschop said the Centre was launched a few months ago in the United States among the Guyanese Diaspora who are “dedicated towards rebuilding this country.”
Meanwhile, Morrison pointed out that the Centre is not a “hand-out” or “welfare” organization rather; it seeks to help persons in genuine need. It intends to provide training in cake decorating to interested persons, particularly single-mothers.
The launching also saw attendance by persons including honorary guests Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen and former Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff Edward Collins. Collins said he was honoured to have been able to contribute towards the Centre and encouraged others to pledge their support to “this worthy cause.” He said too that youth are the engine of the country and every necessary measure should be taken to ensure that they are equipped to become productive citizens.
The Centre will also house the Guyana Observer which will continue the objectives of the Caribbean People’s Forum which was published and distributed in the US from 1993 to 1999. The Observer was first published in 2007. The Centre will also house Consultancy Services including public relations, videography and television production and an internet café.
Congratulations Mark!!!!
This is a great start and you obviously put your time, effort and money where your mouth is.
I do hope that this foundation prospers and wish that all those folks out in Region 11 do likewise, especially those of us who love to “run dey mouth” on any and everthing that relates to Guyana’s development.
Too many of us just sit on our fannies and money and, blabber, blabber, blabber because we can and not seek to add to the solution.
I just pray that a similar initiative is spawned that will deal with reducing Domestice Violence, particularly among single female headed-households.
Again, congratulations and I am willing to help in any sort of way from my end.
The moderator has my permission to give you my email address, if you so desire to make contact.
EH EH WHERE THR ROMANCE COMMING FROM? TE TE HE HE
Keep up the good work Mark.
You are doing a great service to the underprivileged and depressed youths in Guyana. Kudos.
Great Job Mark. You can be sure that I will be making donations towards this cause. I pray that others in the diaspora, especially Guyanese of African descent, contribute towards the growth of this self help initiative.
Fill barrels with what you do not want people. You ladies sometimes wear a dress once and then warehouse it. Send them home for the poor sisters if you cannot affford to buy new things and send. You know we throw away things that can be put to good use in Guyana. Send home your old PCs, your old printers, books and things that mark can use to give promise to the lives of those on the periphery of the vision of the powers that be in Guyana.
Thank You All Very Much!
From Saul to Paul. Mark must thank the PPP and more so “King Jagdeo” for letting him see the light. From PPP/C apologist and anti-Hoyte crusader to anti-PPP government crusader now to humanitarian and crusader for the underprivilige. Just joking.
Congrats Mark for being so positive and a worthwhile role model. Inequity in society is occasioned by poorly thought out and implemented public policy by government. In Guyana’s, a strong case has been made by a number of persons and organizations that there has been and continue to be deliberate actions by the PPP government to entrench inequality and inequity in the Guyanese society through African marginalization and the allocation of resources between communities on the basis of political support.
Mark, work like yours will show others that they should not only lament about the poor and miopic policy actions of government but rather do something tangible about it. I hope that your financial sponsors see the wisdom in supporting you and that others will come on board. But remember, please do not do the same as the PPP government. Remember we are all God’s children in his own likeness. My contributions will flow through a surrogate. I have already made a small contribution and will look and see how you proceed before committing my hard earned funds.
if there can be some email address or physical address where i can make a donation good job mark
Well done Mr. Benchop! I am so happy to see someone finally doing something productive for the Guyana. This is also very impressive because it has nothing what-so-ever to do with politics. I would also like to see Mr. Benchop and the president work together to bring more changes to the country.
Corbin can learn from Benchop. Here is a man who is not wasting his time protesting for every little crap. He actually did something to help. My advice to Corbin is to ” Do something beneficial for the people, protesting isn’t helping”
Some people are talkers and some are doers. Mark is a doer and a very talented Guyanese. Mark is upstaging ACDA and to a lesser extent AFC. Mark has many reasons to be complaining about governance but because he had lived in the US he has recognised that government is not responsible for development. People have to develop thenselves. Mark is taking the right approach. Empower the people to help themselves.
Congratulations Mark. This is long overdue. You have singlehandedly done and started what ACDA has failed to see. I now will be on the look out for your website so that I can solicit and make contrbutions towards this foundation.
Mr. Benschop is a noble and honorable citizen. He was imprisoned under questionable evidence and yet he demonstrates his love for Guyana by continuing to advocate for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised.
Way to go Mark. Let your example shine like a beacon.