Boosting river safety
PYARG officials donated lifejackets to students and teachers of the Baracara Primary School
PYARG officials donated lifejackets to students and teachers of the Baracara Primary School

PYARG, MARAD collaborate to enhance river safety in Baracara, Canje Creek
RESIDENTS of the Canje Creek community of Baracara will soon be able to access the services of the boat donated by President David Granger, under his 5B’s initiative programme after a collaborative effort by the Presidents Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG)(MS) programme and the Maritime Administration of Guyana (MARAD).

Chairman of PYARG,
Community Development Chairman of Baracara, Marshall Thompson, (left) greets Executive Officer of PYARG(MS) Mr. Allister Collins

This collaboration saw a team of officials comprising of Executive Officer of the PYARG(MS) Mr. Allister Collins, Director of River Safety Captain John Flores and MARAD’s Public Relations Officer Ms. Akosua Mc Pherson, visiting the Baracara Primary School where they met the Senior Mrs. in the absence of headmistress Ms. Jackie Sampson who was in New Amsterdam on official business and presented a number of kid’s lifejackets for the pupils use.
Director of River Safety at MARAD Capt. John Flores in presenting the lifejackets to the school’s senior mistress indicated that this donation was a collaborated activity between the PYARG(MS) and MARAD in promoting river safety to the pupils of the school.

At the Baracara Health Centre, a concerned group gathered to voice their questions on the subject matter of acquiring river navigation license, since this is a requirement of the law and the system of obtaining such a document was never shown to them.

Residents of Baracara at the community meeting

In the wake of the donation of the boat, which main purpose is to provide transportation for the pupils of the Baracara primary School, the Regional Administration through the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Claude Henry, had instructed the boat be only operated by a licensed operator which saw the vessel grounded for close to twenty months.

On a recent visit to the community by newly appointed Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton, the matter was raised and a promise was made to have it raised at cabinet meeting. So far no word or communication on the matter has reaches the residence of Baracara.

The PYARG (MS), which is the largest youth network in Guyana, after seeking to launch their activities in their program to the residents of Baracara, was informed of the situation and promptly informed MARAD of the position. MARAD responded and visited the community.
On arrival MARAD found, like other river in communities, there was no licensed operator and proceeded on a brief safety education campaign to which Capt. Flores explained to residents the basic requirements.

The residents present questioned the MARAD official for clarity on the process and expressed their gratitude for the intervention of both agencies in giving their community support.
Capt. Flores who is also the President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation made a presentation of volleyballs to the Senior Mistress of the Baracara Primary School and the community in the aid of developing the sport in the community.
He noted that the game is a very competitive game and fosters technical and tactical skills with teamwork achievement, noting that efforts will be made to have training session organized by the association which the community falls under

While concluding the visit, Executive Officer of PYARG(MS), Mr. Allister Collins, took the opportunity to launch the Presidents Youth Award Republic of Guyana (MS) programme to the residents of Baracara.
In his detailed presentation he spoke of the programme being a non-formal education one which caters for youths between the ages of 14 – 26 yrs., and of the three categories in bronze, silver and gold with four qualifying section in Skill, Physical Recreation, Community Service and Exploration or Expedition Journey.
He outlined the period and areas of service to qualify and he mentioned that participants compete against no one other than themselves. The participants are placed in groups which are normally referred to as units with an assigned trained leader who coordinates activities in accordance to the award manual.

Questions were asked as to whether this program sought to bring developmental relief to the community the residents. In response to another very important question regarding religion in the award program-since the community of Baracara is a predominantly Seventh Day Adventist religious community-they were assured that such activities of the award in its non- formal education programme was referred to weekend activities.
This was quickly answered by the award leader who told the gathering that the programme has made provision for the religion of Christianity regarding Seventh Day Adventist and such activities will be tailored to accommodate them.

He concluded that he will return in a matter of weeks to commence the operational activity of the award programme in Baracara. Community Development Chairman of Baracara community, Mr. Marshall Thompson, thanked the team for their timely visit and pledged his community support in the activities and process for the operation and licensing of residents to operate their private boat and have the donated boat brought into operation and the agencies would be informed on the readiness to commence this process.

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