Georgetown, Guyana – (June 18, 2019) President David Granger, this morning, visited the St. John the Baptist Primary School in Bartica, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) where he iterated his Government’s motto of ‘Every child in school’ (ECIS).
The President reminded the students of the Primary School, the first school he attended, that education is important while noting Government’s mission is to “ensure that every child is in school”.
Since taking office in 2015, President Granger through the Public Education Transport System (PETS) popularly known as the ‘Three Bs’ programme has provided boats, buses and bicycles to transport children across the country to school. Books and breakfast are also provided to school aged children.
“We presented buses, bicycles, and we believe every child should go to school regularly,” he said, in keeping with the three A’s in the education system – access, attendance and achievement.
“You cannot blame children who are living far away if they cannot get to school…that is why we provided the buses, what is called the ‘David G’ bus and why we provide the bicycles,” he asserted, while emphasising that every child must be in school.
President Granger visited the Primary School moments before attending this week’s Cabinet meeting held at the office of the Mayor and Town Council. This is the first time a Cabinet meeting has been held in Bartica.
He committed to continue providing transportation to students across the country and particularly boats to those who live in riverine areas, so they can get to school.
“I am talking about the fact that every child in this country must be given equal opportunity to come to school. This means there must be sufficient schools, this means also that there must be no gap between the coastland and the hinterland,” the Head of State said.
The President who was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry reminded that it was his Government that over the past four years, which named four new towns- Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma and Mahdia.
“Bartica is not bush, it is a part of Guyana like any other part, like Rosehall, Corriverton or New Amsterdam. Bartica is the administrative centre of a region which is bigger than The Netherlands, you cannot administer a region from a village. Bartica has and will get more public services…it has a large population. Bartica has every reason to be a town,” the President said.
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