Residents of Wakenaam were thrilled on Saturday to have a ‘Santa Claus Parade’ for the first time on the island, compliments of a former resident and the Aditya Kids Trust Fund Foundation (AKTFF).
The best part was that some of the local children got to be part of the parade. Many other children enjoyed the presents and goodies as Santa and his helpers drove throughout the island on a tractor and trailer and distributed them.
The parade was made possible through Tyrone Madramuthu Moonsammy, a director of the AKTFF who resided at Caledonia, Wakenaam.
Moonsammy who is now residing in Canada told Stabroek News that he always wanted to do something special for the island.
He thought of the parade because it is always a success when the AKTFF holds it in West Berbice. So together with the “Aditya family” he headed to the island to make the children feel included “in the joys of the holiday season.”
He expressed gratitude to Dianand Seeraj for “arranging everything and to my cousin, Mary for cooking and for the crew as well as my wife and children.” He also thanked his relatives and friends of Caledonia for preparing the float.
Residents were also thankful to the AKTFF for brightening their Christmas and commented that “not many people who left the island would remember us and do something like this.”
Meanwhile, president of the organization, Archie Mohan said they continued with their annual parade on Sunday from Bush Lot to Ithaca in West Berbice.
It was held for the seventh year and was again a major accomplishment for the organization. He thanked the Fort Wellington police for their usual co-operation.
He said he got a lot of satisfaction seeing the smiles on the faces of the children when they received their bags of goodies. Some of the selected children received “huge toys” while the babies got other items like strollers, rockers and play pens.
The majority of the distribution was done at No 5 and No 23 Villages and at Ithaca. Mohan said the event was spearheaded by the youth arm of the AKTFF.
He expressed gratitude to Nazim Baksh “for travelling from Canada to support us” and to R&R Auto, Q-Trex Shipping and other business persons. In the meantime, the AKTFF which provides free academic classes honoured the most outstanding students at an awards ceremony on Friday.
He said students who took the top five positions are; Hareshwar Persaud, who was also presented with the ‘student of the year’ prize, Ricky Lall, Balram Rickylallswari, Balram Jaipersaud, Lakshmi Dhoman, Tnisha Harilall.
