Sod turned for $20M health facility in Buxton
Guyana Chronicle
June 3, 2004
GINA -- A NEW day is dawning for the community of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, with yesterday afternoon's sod turning exercise for the expansion of health services costing US$100,000, or G$20 million, for the village.
The activity was spearheaded by Jay Bee Medical Services International, an overseas-based Guyanese group primarily from the Buxton village, who has dedicated its efforts to the overall improvement of the historic community.
Participating in the activity, Prime Minister Sam Hinds commended the self-help initiative, noting that it presents a positive view of Buxton. "We must be prepared to work hand-in-hand," said Mr. Hinds, adding that Guyana has great needs but must grapple with distributing its limited resources evenly.
Also present at yesterday afternoon's event was Leader of the Opposition and PNC/R Leader Robert Corbin, who remarked that Buxton has produced notable members of society who have contributed significantly to Guyana's development.
Prime Minister Hinds referred to the Japanese-funded state-of the-art hospital under construction in New Amsterdam, and assured that Government plans to oversee the construction of a similar facility in the town of Linden.
Mr. Hinds expressed hope that citizens would begin to actively participate in the country's development process as Government continues to "do its best in a balanced way" with the available resources.
Mr. Corbin deemed the occasion in Buxton historic, noting that it will set a good example for Guyanese in other communities.
New features of the expansion project include the erection of a top flat to the existing single flat structure and construction of a new two-storeyed facility. A prominent dimension of the project will be classroom exercises for skills training to encourage entrepreneurship in the village.
According to the Director of Technical Operations of Jay Bees, Michael Benons, the new structure will house a paediatric unit, a dental clinic and an emergency room. He explained that the new health services will be open 24 hours.
Construction work will commence soon and is scheduled for completion in November. Already, Jay Bees has retained the services of a number of medical and paramedical volunteers, and plans are afoot to recruit additional staff to meet the demands of the new facility.