Residents of River’s View, Upper Demerara – Berbice (Region 10) are the latest beneficiaries of the Government’s “Boats, Buses and Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books” (‘Five Bs’) programme.
President David Granger, today, commissioned two speed boats in that community. One was donated by Mr. Nazar Mohamed and his son Mr. Azruddin Mohamed of Mohamed’s Enterprise Mining Sector and will be used to ferry children to and from school, while the other, which was donated by Berbice businessman Mr. Peter Lewis, will be used for medical and other emergencies.
The President was accompanied by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence and Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton.
President Granger expressed satisfaction and pride in the manner in which the private sector has been partnering with the Government. He said that the support that the ‘Five Bs’ programme has been receiving is tangible evidence of the fact that Guyanese are ready to be unified and to move the country’s development forward.
The President explained that the idea for the programme came from ordinary Guyanese who face daily financial and other struggles to send their children to school.
The Head of State explained that the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region alone is bigger than the Netherlands and as such it needs educated people to propel its development; building proper infrastructure, creating employment, securing investments and developing the mining sector.
Mr. Nizam Zaman, who spoke on behalf of the donors, said that they are happy to be part of a programme that will ensure that the question of affordability does not stand in the way of children whose dreams are to reach the highest levels of academic achievements.
River’s View Toshao, Mr. Elvis Williams expressed his gratitude to the Government and highlighted that this is the first time that a sitting President has visited his community in decades.
The school boat, the David G. 7, is one of many that has been handed over to riverine communities under the programme since its launch last year.
