Food for the Poor builds 50 more homes

Fifty families are now relishing the comfort of their new homes, which featured in the opening of the new Amerindian Community, Mashabo, a joint initiative of Food for the Poor, USA and Guyana.
The village which has adopted the name “Hosanna”, by donor, Mr. Charles “Chuck” Stoner, is the sixth and final housing project to be completed on the Essequibo Coast.
Others that were completed over the past three years, at a cost of 532M dollars, are at Capoey, Mainstay, Onderneeming, Li’l Red Village 1 and 2 and Siriki, Pomeroon River.
The two bedroom houses were handed over to 50 families, on Thursday, by executive members of FFTP, after a short ceremony.
Present at the ceremony were Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Sukhai, Region Two Chairman, Parmanand Persaud, Executive Director of FFTP, Leon Davis, Chairman FFTP, Paul Chan-A-Sue and benefactor, Mr.Charles “Chuck” Stoner.
Davis said that over the past three years FFTP has done tremendous work starting from Supenaam and extending to Siriki, in the Pomeroon and added that 400 homes were constructed, which currently sees the occupancy of one thousand families.
He stressed that while FFTP needs additional partnership, $532M was spent primarily from housing donation made by FFTP.
Minister Pauline Sukhai reminded the recipients that they are a unique group of people. Guyana is the second country in the world to implement legislation aimed at protecting Amerindian rights.
She explained that Mashabo has seen the level of initiative, especially by the leaders to complement the gift of life.
“Life is not easy; no one knows the effort one has to put in to get help.”
Minister Sukhai added that the Ministry, over the years, has worked on different pilot programmes, triggering housing drives in Amerindian communities in Regions One and Ten.