Twenty-one students in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) were yesterday the recipients of bicycles and backpacks as a reward for being among the country’s top performers at the 2016 National Grade Six Assessment.
According to a Ministry of the Presidency press release, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, who travelled to Linden to hand over the gifts, said she was “particularly proud” to be presenting the top performers with bicycles and backpacks.
In an address to the students, their parents, regional officials and others gathered at Department of Education, Republic Avenue, Linden, the minister noted that this is the first time in many years that the top regional performers are being honoured and lauded. Four of the top students earned places at Queen’s College, ten at the Bishops’ High, four at Saint Stanislaus College and three St Rose’s High, the release stated.
Referring to President David Granger’s educational programme, Boats, Buses, Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books (Five Bs), it quoted Ally as saying, “I want to say to you Region Ten that you are very fortunate as you are enjoying many of the Bs. You have enjoyed boats; three boats have been allocated to this region – Berbice River, Demerara River and Essequibo River because we recently gave [one to] River’s View… You already have one bus… and you are now fortunate to get bicycles and bags.
“I ask you Region Ten to become builders, another ‘B’ in this region… Linden is doing well.”
According to the release, the minister also noted that there was a furore when the government stopped the poorly administered distribution of the $10,000 school voucher operated by the previous administration. However, “It is not about the $10,000. It is about providing a better life for our people… It is about providing opportunities for our young people to be better citizens of this country,” she was quoted as saying.
“Top students, top schools,” she said, as teachers, parents, students and other supporters erupted into loud cheers, during the ceremony, the release said.
Ally extended thanks to Linden Mayor Carywn Holland, who advanced the ministry’s plans to reward the top students in his constituency by donating a number of bicycles for distribution.
Holland recalled that he once benefited from support, during his school years and has been inspired by the President’s Five Bs programme. Further, he announced that he will establish the Cecil Holland Fund for Top Students, in memory of his father, who died recently and who had been a source of support to one of the top students. The mayor also pledged to provide the bicycle for the honouree, who was not present at yesterday’s event, the release said.
Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he was pleased with government’s efforts to make education accessible to all the nation’s children.
The release quoted him as saying, “I’m very much pleased to know that we have a government that is pursuing education; that is supporting all initiatives that will lend to the extension of education among our children and young people. I’m extremely happy.”
Other attendees at the gathering included Keane Adams, Regional Education Officer (Ag) who represented Regional Education Officer; Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Patterson; Jermaine Figueira Member of Parliament; Sandra Adams, Director of Community Development and RDC Councillor; Maylene Stephens, Deputy Regional Executive Officer; Lana Mosley, who chaired the programme, councillors of the RDC and of the Mayor and Town Council.
Delcia Casim wowed the audience with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” and the gathering also sang “Let us Co-operate,” the release said.
