SCORES of delegates gathered at the Marian Academy on Carifesta Avenue last Monday for the 23rd Biennial Delegates Conference of the Caribbean Association of Catholic Teachers (CACT).

Hosted by the Guyana Association of Catholic Teachers (GACT), the Conference brought teachers from across the spectrum together with their Caribbean counterparts for an inspiring forum focusing on the educational environment and the evolving role of Catholic educators.

The conference, which runs for one week at the leading Catholic secondary educational institution in Guyana, has as its theme: “Catholic Educators as Agents of Change in the Caribbean.”

Heading the visiting delegation is The Most Reverend Bishop Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, Dominica; while host Bishop is the Most Reverend Bishop Francis Alleyne, Bishop of Georgetown, Guyana, who delivered the feature address. Other speakers at the opening ceremony included Bishop Gabriel Malzaire and Mrs. Joan Walker, President of the Caribbean Association of Catholic Teachers.
Also present was Monsignor Terrence Montrose of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Georgetown. Others among the visiting delegation include representatives from Antigua, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago.

The programme got underway with a spectacular parade of national flags being carried into the auditorium by representatives of the participating territories, and from then things were expertly handled by Chairperson, Mrs Michella Abraham-Ali.

Also adding flavour to the well planned and executed programme were choice and spiced renditions by the youthful Marigold Choir, and dance sequences displaying youthful exuberance by representatives of the National Dance Company.

While the opening ceremony was held at Marian Academy, the remaining six days of the caucus will be conducted at St Paul’s Pastoral Centre at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara.

(By Shirley Thomas)