MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud last Saturday hosted a Christmas celebration at his home in Groenveldt, Leonora on the West Coast Demerara, for senior citizens and children of several Region 3 communities.

At the senior citizens party there was a reunion of sugar workers, all of whom received gifts.
Persaud wished everyone a Merry Christmas, noting that Christmas is a time for everyone to appreciate the labour given by the sugar workers to Guyana over the years.
He observed there were some faces which are absent this year as, a result of them passing away; nevertheless, he said he was pleased to welcome other new faces to the celebration.
The minister indicated that a few villagers were unable to attend the event early as a result of the sugar estate also hosting its social on the same day for its elders.
He related that despite the small attendance, he was thankful to all the persons and organisations that brought everyone together and contributed to their well being.
The minister expressed his gratitude to Kings Jewellery World which donated a tent for the occasion, the Demerara Oxygen Company Ltd (DOCOL) and to the executive members of the Community Development Council, all of whom made sure that residents benefitted from their generosity.
He also acknowledged those persons who worked tirelessly in assisting with the preparations, such as those who put their time and labour into cooking and baking for the festivities and the other community members who donated other items to make this event possible.
He described this as being an extremely special occasion for the community and its senior citizens and children, and noted that he’s looking forward to more activities of this nature which brings persons together.
One of the guests congratulated Persaud for his good work and thanked him for what he did for the senior citizens in the village.
He also noted that they are not just at the event for the fortune, but rather to accept and to bless and wish the minister a long and successful life and to keep up the excellent work he has been doing as a minister and humanitarian.
The gifts for the elderly were provided by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Meanwhile, the children at the social were all from different villages including Leonora, Edinburgh, Stewartville, Groenveldt, and Cornelia Ida, and they all received gifts from Santa Clause and took part in singing Christmas carols.
Persaud said that the Radio Needy Children’s Fund (RNCF) donated the gifts that were given to the children, and encouraged the children to always be good members of society no matter what the circumstances may be.