29 Guyanese graduate from course in basic Portuguese
TWENTY-NINE residents of Lethem and its environs in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) have graduated from the basic level of a ‘Portuguese for Foreigners’ language course. The training was conducted by the University of Roraima in Bonfim, Brazil, over the past six months, free of charge, Senior Vice-President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Mr. Alfred Ramsarran disclosed.
He said the graduation exercise was held at the secondary school in Bonfim, not far from Lethem and the graduates are to begin a higher (intermediate)level of the programme, starting the second week in July.
The graduating class of 29 reflected a pass rate of 52 percent for the basic programme, which 27 participants failed.
Those who did not graduate have been given the option of doing over the course along with 13 others, who will make an enrollment of 40 for the second basic course also scheduled to begin in July, Ramsarran said.
He explained that the basic language course was started as a determined attempt to mitigate the communication problem between the Guyanese in Lethem and the Portuguese of Bonfim, the neighbouring village on the Brazilian side of the border.
Major bugbear
Ramsarran said the language barrier (English versus Portuguese) has been a major bugbear in the efforts of the two communities to increase border relations in trade, sports and culture.
He said the idea of the Portuguese for Foreigners (Guyanese) course was born during discussions in Brazil, last year, involving members of the RCCI, the Guyana Private Sector Commission, Go-Invest, other Guyanese businessmen and the Governor of the Brazilian border State of Roraima.
That meeting had also agreed that the language barrier was a serious difficulty that needed to be addressed.
The RCCI, as well, as the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 9 have been, actively, collaborating with the University of the State of Roraima since the first basic course began.
Ramsarran said the RCCI and the RDC are working to set up an ‘English for Foreigners’, targeting Brazilians, at the same secondary school in Bonfim.
They have identified a Guyanese teacher living in Lethem who is bilingual and can undertake the task and arrangements are well advanced for interested Brazilians to enroll.
The RCCI and RDC are also cooperating with the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) of the University of Guyana (UG) to ensure certification for the successful participants.