–as he celebrates his 70th Birthday

IN celebration of his 70th birthday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Thursday went back to his roots for a time of reflection and sharing.

The venue at which he chose to celebrate this significant milestone was none other than the Auchlyne Primary School in East Berbice, where not only he and his wife, Mrs Sita Nagamootoo spent their formative years, but President David Granger as well.

Taking a trip back down memory lane with well-wishers gathered at the school, the Prime Minister reminisced on his boyhood days at the school, and how he fell head over heels in love with Sita Mary from the moment he saw her.

Accompanied by Mrs. Nagamootoo, the PM was accorded a resounding welcome by both pupils and teachers of Auchlyne Primary, as they were entertained by a packed cultural programme which included folk songs, dances and poems.

In return, the PM handed over to the school body a quantity of items he’d brought with him, among them books he would have written, hampers for parents and teachers, notebooks for the kids, and diaries for the teachers.

Mrs. Nagamootoo also walked with a little something to give back, with among those items being a water dispenser, a photocopying machine, books for the school’s library, learning aids for the kids, and exercise books and notepads.

And, in an effort to promote ICT in that community, the Prime Minister, through Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms Cathy Hughes has promised to make Auchlyne Primary the first primary school in the region to be connected to the World Wide Web.
He even walked with a few laptops, five to be exact, to show good faith, and handed them all to the school, so that when the requisite systems for an IT Lab are put in place, they can hit the ground running.

In brief remarks, the PM said he felt it was important to return home to pay tribute to the school and community that helped shape his life.

“Today, as I observe 70 years, I thought it was fitting I pay tribute to my parents, humble fisherfolk from Whim, to whom I give credit for my long life and good health so far, and for having come this way,” he said, adding:
“Born November 30, 1947, I grew up in that environment, nurtured by the good spirits and the people of that village to become the first Prime Minister, Journalist, MP, Minister, and Author from a small fishing village.”

Using his life as a fitting example, he urged the eager young faces before him to work towards their goals, since they, too, can trod the same path that he did and make their small villages and their school proud.

“Each and every one of you can become the Prime Minster of your country,” he said. “Each one of you can become the President of the country; each of you can become the most important person. You are all important, irrespective of where you came from.”

On his way to his home village of Whim, the PM made an impromptu stop at the Whim Bus Shed, where he met with several residents.
And they wasted no time in lobbying for the resuscitation of the Whim Market, and the rehabilitation of the Whim Wire Dam Street, which has fallen on hard times, and for street lights to be placed on it.

Addressing their concerns, Mr. Nagamootoo committed to looking into the possibility of building a modern two-storey market, replete with toilet facilities.

He also instructed his assistant to make a note of those concerns having to do with the deplorable state of the roads and the need for street lights, and to take them up with the subject minister to see what can be done.