Replacing his sleigh with a canoe, Santa Claus made his way to the Arrowpoint Resort Tuesday, bringing the yuletide season’s cheer to approximately 80 children.

The boatload of children arriving at the resort in high spirits.

The children, from the Santa Mission and Aratak communities in Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Island) and between the ages of three and 14, arrived by boat to the resort, signing ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’.

Santa’s arrival at Arrowpoint has been supported for the past 15 years by Roraima Inc., headed by Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Mr. Gerry Gouveia.

Gouveia explained that the bringing of joy to the lives of the children is an amazing experience, considering that as a little boy he never got to see Santa Claus since his parents could not afford it.

And this support for the community is a part of his organisation’s fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility.

In this regard, Gouveia observed that catering for the children at year-end has taken a significant position in the company’s corporate social responsibility strategy.

The PSC Chairman alluded to the importance of education as the quintessential tool for development of children and, by extension, a nation.

He said the development of the children has much to do with the expansion of the paradigms they are exposed to.

“They need to see how far they can go….There is a bigger world outside of what they know now,” he said.

To this end, Gouveia noted that Christmas is the ideal avenue to explore this vision of expanding paradigms, since it is a large part of local conventions in the communities.

Gouveia observed that the children’s Christmas fiesta has become, for his company and moreso for his family, a tradition.

Continuing in the spirit of upkeeping traditions, the children, once disembarking at Arrow Point, began their search of the grounds of the resort for Santa Claus.

One little boy, not finding the much awaited Santa Claus, made his way to the waterfront only to create an uproar at the sight that greeted him, Santa and his elves paddling to shore in canoes. Once out of the boats, the celebration got going, boosted by Santa’s good humor and charisma.

Santa and the children made their way to the lounge area of the resort’s main house and the children, apart from being treated to several goodies, received presents individually addressed to them.

The head teacher of the Santa Mission Primary School, Mr. Gordon Cheong, who has been there for 35 years, said this personalisation is what made the celebration special for the children.

“When they come here they are given many privileges which say to them that they are welcome. It is special for them and the initiative is an excellent one,” Cheong said. The school was founded in 1912 and presently operates 11 classes overseen by seven teachers.

Cheong says that the teachers are adequate and support each child as best they could. The Santa Mission Primary School has been adopted by Roraima Inc. and this partnership sees the provision of moral, financial and material support.

Also, the library at the school is largely resourced by the organisation.

He lauded the vision of Gouveia and added that the supportive initiatives that Roraima Inc. takes up are a source of encouragement and inspiration for the children.