MINISTER of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony took time off from his busy schedule to mingle with students of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast in Region Two, as they held their annual Christmas luncheon yesterday.

In attendance also were the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport’s Permanent Secretary Alfred King and staff members; Region Two Chairman, Parmanand Persaud; members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF); Representative of United Nations Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF); Rights of the Child Commission, and German NGO, Eerepami.
Minister Anthony lauded the students for excelling in sports, especially track and field which saw Region Two earning 36 medals at nationals. He told the students that they should not allow what happened in the past to prevent them from moving forward. “We have to see what happened this year as a learning experience, and we must not be daunted or depressed by what happened,” he urged.
The Minister encouraged staff of the institution to be persistent and work with the students because most of them came with various issues and also commended them for the efforts they have made in ensuring the children are trained.
“You have an opportunity to turn things around; you know that personal gratification you will feel after you would have helped these students…I know that there are many challenges at this institution and the staff must be commended for their efforts in keeping the institution going,” Minister Anthony said.
Among the challenges faced by the institution in 2012, included students escaping and setting fire to a dormitory and the tailor shop.
Minister Anthony said that every year the ministry pours resources into the institution, and while it is not perfect, strides are being made to better it.  He also acknowledged some of the organisations, such as: UNICEF, the religious community, Eerepami, and Food for the Poor Inc, that have partnered with the ministry to modernise the facility and bring it to the standard it is today. Students are now involved in drama and music which is quite significant, and Minister Anthony urged the students to make full use of the opportunities that are offered to them.
Permanent Secretary King used the opportunity to point out some of the achievements of the ministry for this year. “We would have had a number of activities and have also been doing well at the outreaches to communities,” King said. Cultural activities such as the National Drama Festival which has helped to build the capacity of persons who are interested in drama and the Inter Guiana Culture Festival have both been very successful. Sports has also been doing well, as the Ministry continues to upgrade facilities across the country.
Next year, the ministry will be commissioning its first Sports Research Centre at which students and coaches will be able to delve into anything related to sports.
Representative of Eerepami, Robert Spitzer stated that there is a lot of potential in the NOC students and pledged his organisation’s continued support to the facility where necessary.
Additionally, 16 students received their certificates for completing the President Youth Award Programme’s (PYARG’s) bronze expedition.
The audience was also treated to a cultural presentation featuring steel pan renditions and a poem by students.
Afterward, Minister Anthony and Permanent Secretary King served the students their meals.