Digicel to build multi-million dollar rehabilitation Centre in Linden

Enid Joaquin, October 16, 2014, By KNewsm Filed Under News, Source - Kaieteur News

The sod was yesterday turned for the erection of a spanking multi-million dollar facility at Spieghtland to house approximately sixty differently able children in Linden.

Upon completion, the facility will house children from the low vision unit of the Wismar Hill Primary School, and pupils of the special needs school which is currently located at Retrieve, Linden.

The new “Linden Rehabilitation Centre for Children”, will be built by Digicel, according to Jacquelyn James, Head of Marketing for the company.

James and other Digicel officials yesterday travelled to the mining town for the event, which was graced by key stakeholders in the community, and the children and teachers are expected to benefit from the initiative.

Construction of the facility will begin by the end of the month, and is expected to be completed by the start of the new school year in 2015, James said.

According to James, initially the decision was taken by Digicel to refurbish the old rehabilitation centre which is located in Retrieve. However, a commitment was later made to build an entirely new facility.

“The initiative came about after a conversation with Ms. Ann Gill, who is a member of United Women for children with special needs, and she indicated that there were schools or centers in Linden that needed some form of assistance.”

So we came for a visit- we went to the low vision school at Wismar, and saw the children there and realized that they do need some assistance, in terms of stationery and some other general assistance.”

James said that they were also told of the special needs school at Mackenzie that caters for children that are differently able. They visited the facility, and it was determined that it was in need of refurbishing.

“So originally we had planned to refurbish that centre, and do what we could for the low vision school, but now that has ended up with us committing to building an entirely new structure that will house both facilities, at one location.”

The new centre will be located next to the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition Hall, on a piece of property that was originally granted to the Legionnaires.

Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon said that three locations had at first been identified for the erection of the facility, but that the current location suited Digicel better. Discussions were subsequently held with officials of the Linden municipality and the Legionnaires.  Both agreed to grant Digicel permission to have the facility constructed on the said location.

Solomon called the project being undertaken by Digicel an “excellent one”.
“This facility will provide the members of our differently able community, the opportunity to be integrated equally, and the scope to perform to the best of their abilities and thus, later contribute towards the development of our community.”

Source - http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....on-centre-in-linden/