HUNDREDS of children and adults from Berbice were on Sunday feted at a grand Christmas party hosted by Mrs Sita Nagamootoo and her Charity Foundation at Courtland, Corentyne.

Attended by a number of officials including her husband, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Region Six Member of Parliament, Charandass Persaud, the event brought together children from villages spanning Port Mourant to Fyrish, Corentyne.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said Christmas is very special and dear to children and every effort must be made to ensure they enjoy the festivities.

“We must never take Christmas away from children, because it is a time when they long for Christmas cheer and small gifts,” Mr Nagamootoo told the over 200 children.

He congratulated his wife for organising the programme, noting that it is also significant that she took the event to Berbice.

The prime minister observed that the party was well managed and he particularly made mention of the variety of cultural items that spiced it up.

For her part, Mrs Nagamootoo said as long as she is alive she will continue to give meaning to Christmas by giving back to her community and surrounding communities.

During the event, Mrs Nagamootoo also presented a cheque of $50,000 to the Sisters of the Mother Theresa organisation; a hot and cold water dispenser to the Whim Post Office to be used by pensioners; several basketballs to the Courtland Basketball Club and a number of softball cricket gear to the Fyrish Cricket team.

Mrs Nagamootoo in remarks also indicated that it is her dream to turn her Courtland home into a facility to help single mothers and youths. Her plan is to establish a centre to teach single mothers and youths vocational skills and provide counselling.   Also attending the event were doctors from the Chinese Medical brigade. The doctors also distributed gifts to the children.

Meanwhile, earlier a group of Opposition backers mounted a picketing exercise outside the venue of the party, but quickly dispersed.