By Nafeeza Yahya Sakur

President David Granger on Thursday commissioned yet another big bus, this time in Region Six, and it will go towards addressing the transportation woes of children in the Upper Corentyne District.The good gesture was made possible through the President’s ‘3Bs initiative’. And it is not all for Region Six. Two more busses will be delivered in the next two days.

The big 50-seater yellow bus named “David G School bus No.5” was donated by Peter Lewis of Associated Construction Services. It is expected to service from Molsen Creek to Leeds Village on the Corentyne Coast.

The vehicle is one of two being donated by the Lewis family, along with a boat and several bicycles.

The handing over ceremony was held at the Kildonan Community Centre Ground and witnessed by residents, teachers, students, Members of Parliament and regional officials.

Regional Executive Officer, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya welcomed President Granger to the region and thanked him for his vision and commitment for a better life for all Guyanese.

President Granger explained that the 3Bs Initiative was born out of his many travels around Guyana where he witnessed firsthand the difficulties students face in getting to school and the struggles of parents in covering their transportation expenses.

“I am here this afternoon not only for the bus but because the bus can carry you to school; I am here not only for school but because school will make you educated and we need an educated population to develop this country and move it forward… I cannot be President when children are suffering, when parents cannot afford to get their children to school, when children are playing basketball at 10:00 am because they cannot afford the bus fare, when children are dropping out of school. Many of our children don’t go to school every day because they cannot afford transportation. I want to be President of an educated nation and I would do everything possible,” Mr Granger told the gathering at the handing over ceremony.

FIRST STEP
He added: “School will give you the mobility; school will give you the opportunity; it would give you guarantee of having that good life so the first step is to get to school.”

Education, the President emphasised is the gateway out of poverty.

“Poor parents will make poorer children unless they are educated. This will bridge the gap and make it an equal playing field… when you go for a job they don’t ask you how rich or poor you are, they ask if you are qualified,” he said.

The President officially cut the ribbon to commission the spanking new vehicle and had a firsthand look inside before students went in to get a feel of what’s it like travelling in David G 5.

The handing over programme featured dances and a poem by little Forzana Mohamed, a student of Sheet Anchor Nursery, appropriately titled 3Bs.

Mohamed received a standing ovation and a gift from the President for her brilliant recitation.

Meanwhile, Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle that he and another business partner had the idea to bring in a few big buses to the region, but after hearing of the President’s idea and seeing that the people of his area are suffering, he saw the need to throw his support behind the 3Bs Initiative.

Minster of Social Cohesion Amna Ally said the Government is proud of its efforts to improve the lives of all Guyanese, contending that when it sets goals, it works to achieve them.

“Our President vision is becoming a reality and this is only the start. I can recall the President’s vision of seeing every child in school, he insisted then that every child will be given the opportunity to go to school and every child will have equal access to education.”

She also expressed gratitude to Lewis and said the Government looks forward to his continued support on future initiatives of the Government.