THE regional administration of Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), last Friday, handed over $600,000 to four children who were selected to participate in the Guyana Teachers’ Union/Caribbean Union of Teachers Athletics Championships in Jamaica. The recipients, Bretley Joseph of Hopetown Primary and Kayla Carmichael of Lachmansingh Primary will be competing in the Under-Eight category while Shikeia Frantzen of Strath Campbell Primary and Delicia Harper
of Bush Lot Secondary would be competitors in the Under 12 and Under 14.
Categories, respectively.
The quartet was selected on the basis of their outstanding performances at the last Ministry of Education/Guyana Teachers’ Union National
Schools’ Track and Field Championships.
They also underwent a few days of training in Georgetown in preparation for the upcoming event.
Harper holds a record at that level by winning the 1,500 metres in the Under-14 category. Described as a “very good distance runner”, she had copped gold medals for that event and for the 800 metres.
Frantzen won a gold medal for the 400 metres under-12 category and Joseph got a silver medal for the 600 metres under-eight group.
Regional sports representative Joyclyn Sears told the Berbice media that the four would join others from around the country to represent the GTU.

EXTREMELY GRATEFUL
She was extremely grateful for the contribution from the region, because the GTU had invited the parents to a meeting and told them they would have to sponsor their own children.
The parents could not afford the cost and approached persons for help. Sears and other sports executives also sent letters to organisations and the Regional Education Department, seeking assistance to offset the expenses.
Sears also expressed special thanks to the Naarstigheid/Union and Woodlands/Farm Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Basil Bazilio
Foundation, Wilfred Mc Almont and family, Muhammad Tufail, Dr. Kester Sullivan and the Hopetown and Lachmansingh Primary Schools.
At the handing over, Regional Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth acknowledged the efforts of the beneficiaries to meet that stage and encouraged them to continue excelling and make Region 5 proud.
“Put your best ability forward while recognising that not everyone can bring first,” he encouraged them, noting that the region would maintain support for such activities.
Regional Education Officer Owen Pollard remarked that education is not all about academics and sports is important to make well-rounded students.