OVER 50 students from the village of Akawini, Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), will now find it easier travelling to and from school.

This was made possible through the donation of a new boat engine along with other essential supplies by Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton.

The minister and his team met the Akawini Toshao, David Williams, on Saturday at the Charity Market to hand over the new 15 horsepower outboard motor engine.

Additionally, Williams collected 15 gallons of Castrol gasoline for the boat engine, bottles of engine oil and 12 brand new life jackets to assist with the safety of passengers in the boat.
“I’m not only overjoyed that the community is benefitting from it, but moreover the schoolchildren. This is the policy of the government, where all the children in this country should have access to quality education,” Minister Norton remarked.

This good gesture stems from a meeting between the minister and the residents of Akawini, who had indicated that they need a proper boat engine.

According to Toshao Williams, the engine will be a great help, since the children will no longer have to walk to the stelling. It will also allow the boat operators to meet them at various pickup points to transport them to and from their destinations.

It will also aid in transporting of the three cooks who are commissioned by the “Hot Meal Programme” to assist in preparing meals for the children and teachers in the hinterland community.

Minister Norton noted that under the previous administration, the Hot Meal Programme was restricted to a small number of hinterland schools. Today, he said, every school in the hinterland has cooks who provide both breakfast and lunch to the students.

He also reflected that a few years ago, it was unheard of for students to “travel on quality roads to access quality education” in their regions.
“We can safely say that we have a bright future for Guyana,” he said. (DPI)