RECENTLY Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul assisted in the distribution of cash grants vouchers under the ‘Because We Care’ initiative for public school children where thousands of parents queued up to receive theirs and also to show their appreciation of what they termed “a thoughtful gesture” by the Government. 

Much favourable responses to this initiative were received by Dr. Gopaul, when he joined the distribution process at several locations across the country, including schools along the West Bank of Demerara, the Essequibo Coast, St. Ambrose Primary School in Georgetown and Tagore Memorial in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne).
During his remarks, the Labour Minister urged parents to see Government’s investment in their children as opportunities for them to pursue their academic interest and accomplish professional development. He alluded to the fact that the cash grant is in addition to the many other initiatives Government has instituted to aid parents’ efforts to ensure their children are educated, including the provision of free uniforms, text books, hot meals and transportation in some cases and snacks in other instances.
“In addition, Government has made the school environment safer, cleaner, and more conducive to learning to the extent that within recent years, Guyana has seen significant improvement in the results at both the CXC and CAPE levels. As parents we ask that you be part of their upbringing. Show your children love and encourage them to attend school regularly and punctually,” he said.

He urged the parents to understand that there is no limit to opportunities “as Government has made these opportunities available to every single child that wants to pursue a career path. Ensure your children complete secondary school so that they could go on to study and develop themselves and their families. Completing school is one of the surest ways to end the scourge of child labour that is affecting many countries around the world.”
In recent years, more than 300 students have returned to Guyana from Cuba as doctors, engineers and agriculturalist, he added, noting that in the colonial past and even after, “only the rich and privileged could have become doctors, lawyers and other professionals, but the last 20 years saw an unprecedented level of technical and professional training given to the children of working class families. The result is that today in all regions of this country there are proud parents who can say that their son or daughter is a doctor or a young professional.”
He also highlighted the opportunities offered to the unemployed in Guyana over the last eight years, pointing to the numerous persons placed in jobs through the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency at the Labour Ministry and the thousands trained through the various programmes of the Board of Industrial Training.
“The training has allowed many school drop outs to become marketable and employed. Similarly, many single parents have benefited, as well as many others who used the opportunity to be trained for the job market,” he said.
These opportunities and development to the country’s human capital, including higher standards for workers, Gopaul stated, are in addition to the infrastructure, economic and social services development taking place, with Guyana’s economic performance being deemed exceedingly well in comparison to sister Caribbean countries.
“The PPP/C Government has been engaged in a development process all across Guyana in a non-discriminatory manner and the Government believes in the even handed approach to development as a sure way to see real development in Guyana,” he said.
He lamented the fact that one of the areas which could bring greater development to the country is hydropower, but noted that the hydropower project scheme was thwarted by politicians who did not put the country first. The minister made it clear that for Guyana to further develop, all its people, and civic and political organisations must work together in putting Guyana first.
Speaking on recent horror stories of child abuse, which resulted in a few young children becoming pregnant locally, the minister urged parents to ensure their children are protected. “This molestation must be brought to an end and those engaged in the act must face the long arm of the law. Government will ensure an end is brought to the abuse of our young children. Love and compassion must the hallmark of our children’s development,” he said.

(Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)