ONE gets the feeling that Guyana is really on the move. The feeling is supported with a number of facts including housing expansion, investment in education, improved security, better and more roads etc. One would be hard-pressed to substantiate otherwise. With development comes good will, and in this regard, compliments must be showered on the Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited. The financial institution last week honoured some of its employees’ children who successfully wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations. One can only hope that other entities would emulate this worthy gesture.
The 12 lucky, and one can say deserving recipients were Aliyah Hooper, Leshonda Kellman, Kayla Yan, Terrence Walker, Abigail Fraser, Romario Sookdeo, Raphael Williams, Dillon Thomas, Dominic Budhan, Deral King, Maleah Browne and Shaquill Roberts. Each received a Republic Bank ‘Right Start’ gift certificate along with stationery kits. Inherent in the token is the encouragement to study and continue in the same academic vein. Only recently, a number of institutions, the Public Library included, emphasised the need to read and be studious.
In Guyana, there is much talk about erring youths and school drop-outs, and very few would stop to think about the root of some of these problems. One can ask many of Guyana’s stevedores, porters and labourers and get the message very clearly: education is the way out. Almost all of these non-academic persons would admit that they made a mistake. So Republic Bank really did right.
In closing, the advice to capitalize on ‘free’ education in Guyana must be heralded yet again. If one is to save the youths, it will be via education. The Government is doing its part, and so too many organisations. It is hoped that parents will ensure that their children grab the opportunity.