First Lady Sandra Granger presented a school bus and 25 bicycles to the regional education department and school children in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Friday.
The 15-seater school bus and bicycles had been donated by Professor Suresh Narine, Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology and Mahdia businessman, Roger Hinds, respectively, to President David Granger’s ‘Five Bs’ – Boats, Buses, Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books – Programme.
A gathering of students, teachers, residents and graduates from the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop assembled in the compound of the Community Centre to applaud the First Lady as she, with the aid of two children and Regional Education Officer( REDO) Rabindra Singh, cut the ribbon to commission the ‘David G School Bus No 9’.
“I hope the children of Mahdia and surrounding areas get the best out of this vehicle,” the First Lady said.
Meanwhile, the Regional Education Officer expressed the community’s gratitude for the donation.
“These kinds of gestures are very welcome in our community. It is going to help us a lot in terms of our truancy campaign and help the teachers and head teachers to ensure that our students are there on time. Time is very important in school for our curriculum delivery,” Singh said.
Fifteen bicycles were presented to secondary school students who hail from communities including Airstrip, Pamela Road, Beyond Campbelltown, St Elizabeth Backdam and Mahdia Falls and travel long distances to get to school.
The remaining 10 bicycles will be presented to the top graduates from the recent National Grade Six Assessment examination.
