Former UK Marine, Richard Allen, who rowed solo from Sierra Leone to Port Georgetown is set to travel across Guyana and assist the Guyana Foundation with projects that it has ongoing.
Supriya Singh, founder of the Guyana Foundation, stated that Allen wanted to assist the Guyana Foundation with the works that they currently have ongoing.
At a meet and greet session which was held on the Kingston Seawall just behind the Marriott Hotel, students from West Ruimveldt Primary, St Gabriel’s Primary, St Margaret’s Primary and other primary schools welcomed Allen to Guyana.
Allen stated that it was very important for him to come to Guyana. He added that he will be visiting schools and also distributing teaching packets to various schools around the country which are designed to aid in educating students about the Commonwealth and the harmful effects of plastic waste on marine life in the oceans. “This is what this whole row has been about really, it’s just to say look, we’re all very different and live in different parts of the world but that’s what makes it great. The point is we need to start working together” said Allen.
According to the former marine, schools in Guyana will be partnered with other schools in the Commonwealth to assist each other and work together in educating each other and also reducing the amount of plastic waste that gets into the ocean.
Allen fielded questions from the students who were curious about his journey. He stated that his journey which stated on December 18th was rough especially at the first and last lap of the voyage. He told the students that the entire point was to row in the ocean without leaving the Commonwealth.
Students were told that at the last lap of the journey he felt like stopping short as he was down to one oar but was able to piece them together and finish the journey. “It was three bits of the row, a very hard bit, a very boring bit and a very dangerous bit” disclosed Allen, as he described his experience to the students.
Previous reports indicated that he was hoping to spark some interest, especially among children and schools, to get them involved and learn about the other Commonwealth countries while banding together to work on trying to reduce plastic waste in the oceans.
An official of the Ministry of Education stated that plans are in place for Allen to visit schools and to “Twin schools” within the Commonwealth which would help in sharing information, exchanging ideas and even student exchanges.
