YOUTH, Sport and Culture Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, in an address to a large number of students and staff of the New Opportunity Corps at the special Minister’s Luncheon on Friday, called for persons to talk about the positive things the institution has been doing.

He said some people take the inconsequentialities and magnify them into major issues, completely ignoring and/or downplaying the great positive work being done by the staff and communities around the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

The Minister said the NOC is a correctional institution for juveniles, and has had successes over the past years. He pointed to persons who were discharged from that institution and are now leading better lives.

Giving one example, Minister Dr Anthony said he remembered once going to Linden for the opening of a new hospital, and a young lady came up to him after the programme ended and said, “Sir, don’t you remember me?” He said he had a little difficulty to place her, but she said, “I was at the NOC, and while at the institution I was allowed to go to school, and I wrote CXC examination and passed six subjects. Now I have a job and (am) doing well for myself.”

The minister said people need to talk positive things like that about the NOC.

He said the students of the institution who participated in the National Drama Festival this year also did excellently. He commended them for their brilliant performance, and he complimented everyone who worked to train them in drama.

The minister said that now that the institution has a little track record, he expects it to be in the competition next year, and he hopes it would continue to do well.

Minister Anthony said the NOC is also doing excellently in providing live music from steel pans. He said the institution is always providing rich steel pan music at all National events in the region

Vision
Minister Anthony told the students of the NOC that they have many options to become what they want in life. He called on them to think carefully about what they want in life, to have an objective and to work hard to achieve it. He called on each student to have a vision for the next five years, and to work step by step towards achieving it.

The minister said his ministry would help students to achieve their goals because the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is there to help anyone who wants to turn a new leaf and develop themselves, once they cooperate. He said the bright spark in every student can be developed.

The minister said the work the ministry does at the institution is to change lives, and that is happening with positive results. He said the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is strong and can take criticism.

Region Two Chairman Mr Parmanand Persaud, in his address, said the regional administration is fully behind the good things that are happening at the NOC. He pledged that, within a week, the administration would send a bulldozer to grade down a semi-forest at the back of the NOC, so it can be developed into farming land that students could cultivate.

Guyana’s world renowned body builder Mr Hugh Ross, who is now a Tourism Ambassador, told students that they must not feel depressed or cast away being at the facility. He told them their future is what matters, and he called for them to use the opportunity at NOC to reflect on their lives. According to the Sportsman of the Year, there is nothing conceived that cannot be achieved.

On his arrival at the institution, Minister Anthony was given a welcome that included masquerade drumming and flouncing by some students, causing the atmosphere to come alive with the Christmas spirit. Minister Anthony and the Permanent Secretary Mr. Alfred King distributed lunch to the students.

(Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo)