FIRST Lady Sandra Granger yesterday joined residents and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club to launch their first ever ‘Christmas Village and Christmas Tree Light-up’ at the Rose Hall Town Primary School, in Region Six, East Berbice.The First Lady praised the initiative, noting that it captures the true reason for the season as well as advertises the local producers.

“I want to commend the club and the management for this novel idea. I want to commend them also for acknowledging and recognising the importance and reason for this season — that Christmas is about the birth of Christ, about hope, about sacrifice; and that is why we are joyful at Christmas. I also want to thank the club for bringing out the commercial aspect in collaboration with the Minister of Tourism. I hope ‘The Christmas Village’ can be a happy birthday in years to come in Rose Hall,” the Ministry of the Presidency quoted the First Lady as saying.

She also recognised the efforts of the students from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre, who pooled their skills and creativity to make the entire Christmas tree from recycled plastic bottles and other materials.

“I commend the ingenuity of the GuySuCo trainees, with their sustainable Christmas Tree which is both imaginative and environmentally friendly,” she said.

Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes, also attended the event.