• Region Two education officer assures safe, reliable school transport

THE Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Department of Education in Region Two have defended their management of the school boat service along the St. John–Charity route, following concerns raised by residents about disruptions.
Regional Education Officer, Shondelle Hercules, explained that the vessel previously serving the route was removed strictly on safety grounds after being declared unfit for operation. She emphasised that student safety remains the administration’s highest priority.
The issue gained public attention after United States (US)-sanctioned city businessman, Azruddin Mohamed highlighted the matter on his Facebook page.
In response, the RDC and the Department of Education rolled out a contingency plan to ensure students continued to reach school without interruption. Since the reopening of schools on September 8, two alternative boats have been transporting children from Hackney and St. John to Charity.
“This arrangement ensures that not a single child is left behind while we await the delivery of the new school boat already procured for this specific route,” Hercules stated.
Authorities also pointed to broader improvements in riverine school transportation within Region Two. Through allocations from the 2025 National Budget, fourteen new engines and ten school boats were added to the fleet this year, significantly improving capacity and reliability.
According to Hercules, the number of operational school boats in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region has increased to 28 since 2020, reflecting the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to education for learners in remote communities.
Reaffirming its partnership with the Department of Education, the RDC underscored its long-term focus. “We are not just reacting to challenges, but proactively building a system where every child—no matter how remote their village—can reach school and achieve their fullest potential,” a representative stated.