Berbice: The Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and re-integration of 180 indigent Guyanese is now ready to offer its services, according to Human Services and Social Security Minister Jennifer Webster.
The Centre, located at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, was commissioned on August 10 last year. And it was expected to begin accommodating homeless persons by the end of August 2013, and was expected to cater for the accommodation of 100 males and 80 females.
‘The Centre endeavours to transform the lives of its occupants, so as to enable them to become disciplined and productive members of society… Being that it is named after the late former president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, it’s only fitting that we try to maintain a certain standard’ — Minister Jennifer Webster.
Minister Webster said the Centre will serve less fortunate persons, a purpose for which it was built, to help them turn over a new leaf.
HOMELESS PERSONS
Homeless persons from across Guyana will be housed at the centre, which has separate dorms for males and females, a kitchen, recreational, medical, training and dining facilities and conference rooms.
Additionally, Webster highlighted that a therapist to aid in medical assistance and treatment will also form part of the centre’s staff complement. Residents will also benefit from a six-month medical assessment and dental check-up via a partnership with the Ministry of Health. Minister Webster said, too, that the Hugo Chavez Centre will also offer vocational skills training.
The Centre, she added, will be self-sufficient, by means of a special area allocated for agricultural purposes and a fish pond.
The Minister stated that a full staff is in place but a management board is still to be decided on. The board, she noted, will oversee the operations of the facility.
AIM OF OPERATIONS
Webster pointed out that the aim of the centre’s operations is to work, counsel and train the individuals housed at the centre to help them support themselves.
“The Centre endeavours to transform the lives of its occupants, so as to enable them to become disciplined and productive members of society… Being that it is named after the late former president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, it’s only fitting that we try to maintain a certain standard,” she said.
The Minister disclosed that the Venezuelan Government, through the local embassy, has indicated that it will provide training for the staff of the centre.
The Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Re-integration constructed with US$2M funding from Venezuela comes with recreational, medical, kitchen, conference room, training and dining facilities. Also, a section of the land space is dedicated to meaningful occupation of residents in agricultural practices.
Construction of the facility started in January 2010 and was billed for commissioning in May during the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic, ElíasJaua Milano, but was postponed because of unforeseen circumstances.
The commissioning came five months after the death of Venezuela’s much respected President Hugo Chavez, after whom the facility is named.
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