THE riverine community of Rivers View has big plans for the $3M it has been allocated in this year’s budget under the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Presidential Grant scheme.While teachers of the Holy Name Nursery and Primary Schools would have liked it to be used for a school playfield, the majority of the residents have opted for a community playground, and have already begun clearing the land where they propose locating it.

The residents aired their views during a recent meeting with regional officials. Plans were also made to have the playground equipped with bleachers, a sanitary block and a security hut.
A decision was later taken to have a simple play area constructed in the compound of the two schools for children to recreate.
Teachers had complained that children are forced to walk great distances to access an open field to practise for sports and other outdoor competitions.
They also revealed that besides a playground, the schools not only lack other necessities, but are in dire need of urgent repairs as well.
OTHER NECESSITIES
The necessities at reference include fencing, better lights, a storeroom, a security hut and a teachers’ washroom.
Of priority, however, is the need for a new sanitary block at Holy Name Primary, since the entire school population is forced to rely on just two toilets.
There is also an inadequate water supply for the two schools, since the only source of water is from the rains.
The team of regional officials, including Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Regional Chairman Renis Morian noted the concerns of the residents, and promised to have them addressed with funding from the Region’s 2017 Budget.
The team was also told of two bridges in the community that are in such disrepair, they could collapse at any moment.
In their present condition, teachers say, they fear for the lives of the children who have to traverse those bridges every day, especially the nursery school ones.
YET TO BE PAID
They also disclosed that the boat captain and the boat hand hired to carry the children to Bartica for school are yet to be paid for their services.
Meanwhile, given the difficulty in sourcing electricity via the single solar panels available to the schools, calls were made for the establishment of a solar farm that can provide power not only to the schools but other Government buildings and offices in the area.
These include the toshao’s office, the community’s recreational centre, and the health post.
The toshao and councillors, as well as the residents thanked the regional officials for the visit and noted that they look forward to their bringing them relief at the earliest opportunity.