— President Granger

PRESIDENT David Granger has declared that there is a lot in store for Bartica, Region 7, during a toy drive at the Bartica Secondary School yesterday.Referring to the official naming of the community as a town in 2016, the President said, “Bartica is going to be a rich, green town. It is going to be a prosperous town, and all of you… will be able to enjoy a good life in years to come. May God bless you, and Happy Christmas!”

The President added that, befitting the season, his visit was one of peace and goodwill, and he emphasised that Christmas is a time for children.

Some 400 children received Christmas presents, compliments of the Government of Guyana, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency said.

The Head of State was accompanied by Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, who was instrumental in organising the countrywide toy drive.

Also assisting the President was Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson.

Minister Ally, in an invited comment, said that spreading cheer to children at Christmas is something the People’s National Congress has been doing since they were in opposition.

“We believe that our children across the country must enjoy the Christmas. Many of them cannot afford it, and so the President himself promised a good life for all, and we have taken a cue from that. We’ve gone in all 10 administrative regions, in various communities and we have been distributing toys, having little Christmas parties, sharing goodies and so on,” she said.

The minister added that government has received significant private sector support to ensure that the toy drive is a success. She said that while all 10 administrative regions would be reached this year, the government hopes to reach more communities in coming years.

President Granger has, so far, personally distributed toys at Baracara and Sandvoort in Region 6; and Lusignan, Buxton and Georgetown in Region 4.