-Min. Indar says during distribution of ‘Because We Care’ cash grant in Reg. 3

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, has reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in the lives of children as he spearheaded the distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grants in Wakenaam, Essequibo Islands (Region Three) on Saturday.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has budgeted for the distribution of the $15,000 cash grants along with the $4,000 School Uniform and Supplies grant, for students of public schools across Guyana; this means that each child is entitled to $19,000 as part of the initiative.

Approximately 400 children make up the school age population of the island of Wakenaam, and so, the government has injected $7,600,000 in the region through the Ministry of Education.
The 400 children belong to the Essequibo Islands Secondary; Maria’s Pleasure Nursery and Primary Schools; Arthville Primary; San Souci Nursery and Primary schools; Zeelandia Primary School; Belle Plain Nursery; and Noitgedacht Nursery school.

“Children are the future, if we don’t help, develop and sustain and support our children we wouldn’t have a future. That’s the cycle of life; we grow, we born, we die and a new generation of children come up and if we don’t support them now, we won’t be able to give them the chance to give the future generations better,” Minister Indar said.
Minister Indar reminded parents that regardless of their political affiliation, they should ensure that their children benefit from the government initiative.

“Our people need help and don’t let anybody tell you or make you feel that it’s wrong to come and receive this support from government. Don’t let anybody make you feel guilty about that, reject it,” Minister Indar emphasised.
Meanwhile, a resident of Wakenaam, Bibi Saffurah, expressed her gratitude to the government, describing it as “timely” and “necessary.”

Saffurah collected $19,000 each for her four grandchildren, whom she takes care of. Three of them attend the San Souci Primary School, while the youngest child goes to the nursery school.
“This money would help me greatly to buy school supplies and so for the children. Since the pandemic started, they were working from home and so we didn’t have to find uniform and all that, but school could reopen for face to face and this grant would come in handy to help pay for uniforms and books and everything to prepare them,” Saffurah said.

Another resident, Sohodia Persaud, noted that she will begin school shopping today after receiving the grant. The mother, who has three children attending public schools in the region, stated that while she will not be purchasing school uniforms as yet, she will be utilising the funds to ensure books, backpacks and other necessities are purchased for the new academic school year.
“I think it’s nice that the government gave this grant, because I have children in different levels and they would need different things for school.

“I have two children in secondary school and one in primary and I know that there are different things that are necessary for secondary that would be different from what is needed in primary,” Persaud stated.
Similarly, another resident, Joycelyn Ramoutar, noted that since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents have seen a dent in their finances, and so, she is thankful for the cash grant.
“I didn’t start shopping as yet but I am thankful for this grant. I have one child in second form and one starting secondary school this September and the other two are still in primary, so I know what a far way this money would carry me in purchasing things for them to use at school,” said Ramoutar.