The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) will kick off their hugely popular Easter Vacation National Swimming Programme on March 26.
The programme, which was reintroduced in 2022 and is free, has developed into a national policy and is tailored to those 18 and under.
According to a release from the NSC, the programme will “also cater to individuals with disabilities, further extending its scope of importance and impact”.
Additionally, the release stated that the programme “will be implemented at four facilities underscoring its national nature”. These are the Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, the site of its intended launch; the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Georgetown; the Watooka Swimming Pool, Linden; and the Albion Estate Pool, East Berbice.
Leading the programme will be national coach Paul Mahaica who is the programme coordinator and lead trainer. Last year saw an astounding 7,000 individuals taking part in the programme. According to the NSC, more than 12,000 participants have utilised the programme since 2022.
In the release, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle is quoted as saying, “Since it’s rebirth in 2022, overwhelming, to put it mildly, might be an understatement in terms of the response that has been garnered for this programme. The initiative, which is essentially the process of teaching a life skill, has developed into a cultural phenomenon, and that is evident by the immense support that has been afforded.”
According to Ninvalle, “While the groundwork would have been done in the previous editions in sensitising the populace about the programme via several different avenues, inclusive of social media, its resulting success during that period and its expected and continued eminence going forward are primary reasons for its continued historic turnout.”
Ninvalle further said, “With the mammoth turnout that is once again a reality, safety is the guiding star and the building block of this programme, which has never had an unfortunate consequence or episode. We intend to maintain that unblemished record in every regard as we strive to create the ideal environment for learning, social interactions, and discourse so that this initiative can continue its upward trajectory.”
“With success, the natural tendency or progression is for expansion. That is a reality that is being explored as queries have emanated from other environs about that possibility, as the programme is currently being staged in three regions. A gradual but structured expansion is being explored for both programmes,” he further said.
