Residents of the riverine community of Karrau in Lower Mazaruni, Region Seven, are set to benefit from a modern multipurpose facility.
Once completed, it will serve as a hub for meetings, social gatherings, sporting activities and other community events.
The project is currently about 90 per cent completed, with landscaping, furnishing and fencing among the remaining works before the official commissioning.
During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Saturday, Toshao Shane Cornelius said the project was developed to address the village’s longstanding need for a proper space capable of accommodating large gatherings.
The project was completed in phases, utilising presidential grants, village funds and allocations from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
Approximately $4 million was sourced from presidential grants, while another $8 million came from village funds generated through royalties and other revenues.
The remaining funding was provided through LCDS allocations, bringing the total projected cost of the facility to more than $50 million.
Toshao Cornelius explained that residents previously relied on the village primary school to host activities and social events. “So, we have our own village facility now,” the Toshao said.
The facility features a two-storey 60 by 40 ft concrete building with an attached pavilion.
The upper floor will house a meeting hall, stage and washroom facilities, while the ground floor will include a sports room, sports bar, dining area, laundry room and four self-contained guest rooms.
According to Cornelius, the rooms will be fully air-conditioned and connected to the village’s solar farm, which is expected to come on stream soon.
The village leader also highlighted strong community involvement in the project, noting that the concrete blocks were produced locally at the village’s block-making facility. At the same time, timber was sourced from village-owned sawmills.
“This facility would not have been possible without the government support. So, we are happy that the government continues to work along with many communities like ours who are striving and trying to develop like the rest of the country,” Cornelius noted.
The facility is expected to create employment opportunities for residents, including positions for administrative staff and maintenance personnel.
Toshao Cornelius said the village council also intends to implement systems for the proper management and maintenance of the facility to ensure its long-term sustainability.
In addition to the multipurpose facility, the Toshao revealed that Karrau is advancing several other development projects, including an art and craft centre, a play park and an electrical distribution network for the village.