THE two school buses handed over to the Region Five Education Department by President David Granger have been put into service, providing free transportation to children residing in West Coast Berbice but going to school in East Berbice.

An official from the Regional Education Department said the bus named David G School Bus # 2 has been assigned to pick up children from the western end of West Coast Berbice at Foulis and transport them to the ferry stelling at Rosignol.

The other, David G School Bus # 1, is working in Hopetown. The buses roll off at 06:30 hrs.

David G School Bus # 1 was given the additional task of picking up children from the eastern end of West Berbice at Ithaca and transport them to the ferry stelling at Rosignol.

In keeping with the Government’s policy, the children travel across the Berbice River to New Amsterdam on river taxis free of charge.

On dropping off the children at Rosignol in the mornings, the buses pick up children from the eastern end of West Berbice who travel west and as far as Bush Lot Secondary School.

One child, who said her parents welcomed the initiative, said her travelling expenses have been reduced from a basic minimum of $640 per day to $120 per day.

“We are all very happy about this, and we feel very safe with the drivers,” she said.

Parents have expressed relief at the reduction of their expenses, a result of the good gesture by the President.