–Min. Norton encourages continuance of initiative to honour village’s high achievers

THE Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, in collaboration with Douchfour Greenfield Harmony Group, held an award ceremony to honour the students who produced outstanding results in academics and sports in Ann’s Grove and the neighbouring communities.

In his feature address at the award ceremony held at Punter’s Place Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, Minister of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton expressed immense pleasure over the performance of the students who were awarded at the ceremony.

“His Excellency, President David Granger, recently said that ‘education is the surest path to empowering and listing persons out of poverty and marginalisation’. Taking into consideration the accuracy of those words, I do believe that today is a day to celebrate, and I’m most happy to be joining you in this celebration of the accomplishments of some of our nation’s children and young adults.

Over the last year, the students and youths of Anns Grove and its surrounding communities have worked hard to ensure successes in various fields including academics, music and sports. I am pleased that the Douchfour Greenfield Community Harmony Group has taken this initiative for the third time to reward these high achievers,” he said.

The minister further explained that one of the main aims of the government is to ensure that its citizens are well educated, properly trained, fully qualified and capable of creating a more prosperous life for themselves and their families and to ensure that no child is deprived of a sound education regardless of what their financial background is.

The Government of Guyana, he said, wants to make sure that the nation’s children are given a fair opportunity to develop themselves, hence the crafting of the public education and transportation service known as the ‘Five-Bs’ programme, which provides the necessities to ensure that the country’s children are properly equipped to focus on their education.

The said the programme provides children with schoolbooks, book bags, breakfast and transportation in the form of buses, boats and bicycles.

Minister Norton congratulated the Douchfour Greenfield Harmony Community Group, and encouraged them to continue to work hard to further the development of themselves and the country.

“I want to encourage you all to work and let us all join hands to pave the way for these students to have a bright future filled with all sorts of flattering possibilities. I want to remind the parents, the guardians and elders of that saying, which says it takes a community to build a child.

For this reason this particular community must be congratulated and must be encouraged to follow through with what they have initiated and the Douchfour Greenfield Harmony Community Group, the pacesetter we hope that would be emulated by other communities to do the same that you’re doing for your community,” he said.

The minister also encouraged the students to not only focus on academics but also invest in sports, “As the minister with the remit of sports, music and other forms of cultural activities, I beg that you, along with your academic achievements, do not forget the area of sports and culture” he stated.

Eleven students were awarded for their performances at the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), eight students received awards for their performances at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, and two students received awards for their Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and five other students received awards for their performances in sports and music.