By Nafeeza Yahya

PRESIDENT David Granger on Saturday commissioned two 50-seater buses which will be used by schoolchildren in Berbice, a region that he said has the potential to lead the country’s economic recovery

One of the buses, David G School Bus 3, was donated by businessmen Nazrudeen Mohamed of  Jumbo Jet,  while the other bus was donated by Peter Lewis of Associated Construction Services.

Bus 3, which was commissioned at Rose Hall Town, will provide transportation for students from Adventutre to Gibraltar Village.

The other bus, which was commissioned at Sisters village, East Bank Berbice, and is expected to service the area of Light Town to New Amsterdam .

President Granger in his address to the gathering thanked the donors for the buses and reiterated the call for an educated population and added that Berbice has the capacity to be the economic powerhouse of the country.
“The bus you are receiving today is not education, but it will help you to get an education that you need to develop yourself and to develop this great region.

“Berbice has the potential.

“You are the sugar bowl of the country, the rice pot of the country, the fish market of the country and we look to East Berbice-Corentyne to lead the economic recovery of the whole country, but we can only play that leadership role if you have an educated population, if we have talented and skilful people in the region.

“That is why I am here today because our government is concerned about human development, because without intellectual capability, skill and talent we cannot develop this region.”

Granger expressed disappointment that 4,000 students drop out of school each year and in some cases, this is due to financial constraints, especially transportation costs.

He expressed gratitude to the donors because it will help to alleviate the problem without putting a burden on the treasury or taxpayers.

“You are the sugar bowl of the country, the rice pot of the country, the fish market of the country and we look to East Berbice-Corentyne to lead the economic recovery of the whole country. But [you] can only play that leadership role if you have an educated population – if we have talented and skilful people in the region.”

The President further called on everyone to play their part to ensure every child gets to school as it takes an entire region to raise a child.

“It is the responsibility of the whole region to bring up a child.

“Lets us not have  children liming anymore, because they do have transport or children at home because they don’t have breakfast.

“Education is the most important thing we can give our children; employment is the most important thing for young people and we can only get good employment if we get good education.

“Let us give Berbice a change to embark on the road to prosperity, the road to private enterprise.

“So we want you to see this bus as the bus that will take you on the road to prosperity.

“The people who are contributing to this venture are contributing to the development of Guyana.”

Minster of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, said the initiative is part of the administration’s plan to ensure children attend school regularly and punctually; and it is the government’s vision to ensure that every child is afforded equal access to education.

“I want to say to you this is one of nine buses. We have got, six boats and 300 bicycles and more to come and this has been done in a mere nine months.

“This project is geared to bring relief to the many people who suffer because of discrimination, poverty and inequality and marginalisation; this has had adverse effects on education and consequently on the development problem”.

“I say without reservation we will change that, every child will be included to have equal access to education in Guyana.

“I want you to know Region Six will only grow under this administration and because we have a President who believes in unity [and] who wants to administer the affairs of all of Guyana without discrimination and fear,” Minister Ally declared.

She also used the opportunity to call on the opposition to put an end to divisive politics and work together for the development of Guyana.

“Let me assure you only peace and togetherness, love and unity will develop and change our lives as Guyanese.

“I want to call on the opposition to embrace togetherness, unity so that we can work together and develop Guyana, the days for divisive politics must be over.

“This is the ninth month since we are [in] government and I am satisfied we have made significant achievements so far and much more are coming, so that we can continue your development,”

The programme concluded with the President cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially commission the buses and everyone rose to sing “Let us cooperate.”

Last week, the first bus for Region Six was commissioned at Kildonan village.