Hall, Day Care centre commissioned in Sophia under security project

Two Rapid Impact Projects in Sophia, a Multi-purpose Hall in Section ‘E’ and a Day Care and Community Centre in Section ‘A’ were commissioned on Friday by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Minister Rohee said that the Rapid Impact Projects, an initiative under the Citizens Security Programme (CSP), are aimed at assisting communities to become engaged in meaningful activities and he urged residents to maximise the use of investments for the betterment of the communities, the Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA) reported.

The centre in Section ‘A’ benefited from $1M in equipment, including a television, computer, stove, refrigerator, tables and chairs.

Sophia residents at the commissioning (GINA photo)

Another $1M was spent at the Section ‘E’ centre to rehabilitate the building, washroom facilities, procure tables, chairs, a computer, DVD player, television and a book shelves.

Rohee emphasized that having a crime free society is important for Guyana’s development and therefore the government will continue to invest in the necessary projects and programmes to create social cohesion.

Apart from the Rapid Impact Projects, the CSP has also been providing skills training for youths and the violence prevention programmes in Sophia.

The CSP has provided training to over 144 youths in Sophia in various skills geared at developing their entrepreneurial talents, GINA stated.

Representatives of Section ‘A’, Juanita Hinds and Eugene Lewis of Section ‘E’ expressed gratitude to the minister and the CSP respectively for making their respective ventures a reality.

Rohee also saluted the members of the communities for their efforts to bring the projects to fruition.

The Rapid Impact Projects are aimed at assisting communities to become sustainable in their function as a neighbourhood in which all persons are included in the creation of a safe environment and young people are provided with opportunities that will prevent them from participating in criminal and violent activities.

The CSP was launched in 2007 and aims at employing a multi-dimensional approach towards preventing, reducing and fighting crime.

It targets disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Regions Four and Six and  caters for modernization of the Guyana Police Force and the Home Affairs Ministry and building capacity within the force, GINA added.