Under President’s ‘five B’s’ initiative… Fourth bus for schoolchildren added to fleet at Region Six
Children in practically every region continue to benefit from the five B’s initiative that started with H.E President David Granger in 2015.
With three buses already operating in Region Six, another has been added to the fleet last week. The bus was donated by businessman Peter Lewis to the Fyrish Primary School.
At the handing over ceremony, attended by the Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, the President, students and teachers of the school, residents and regional officials, much emphasis was placed on the importance of education.
President Granger reiterated that what is being done is not a political gimmick, but to ensure that children can attend school. He stated that the aim is not just to provide a bus but also to ensure that children have equal access to education.
“That is the root of equality”, he said.
The programmeme, which began in the riverine areas, was an initiative to ensure that every child can go to school and receive the best opportunities.
“We want Guyanese to enjoy this environment, enjoy the fruits of this country. We don’t want poverty, we don’t want inequality, we don’t want deprivation. We want Guyanese to feel proud. Education is the gateway, if you can’t read, write, count or spell, how will you get employment?” he asked.
It is his belief that if anyone is to play a meaningful role in society, they must be educated. “That is why there is so much emphasis on schools. We want to start at the grassroot level”, he noted.
The head of state added that if persons are educated then they can most definitely be self employed. He urged youths, who have acquired tertiary education but still remain jobless, to produce goods and services and export.
“There is work, there is enterprise beckoning to all of you if you are educated. You can process fish, process fruit into fruit juice, you don’t always have to sell them by the bridge (plantain chips), you can package them and sell them to Guatemala, Jamaica…cows that produce milk, you can make cheese but if you have education you can make use of these raw materials.”
Meanwhile, Minister Amna Ally in her speech said that the event is a testimony of what is good governance and a testimony to show how caring of a leader the country has.
The recently donated bus
Students of Fyrish Primary School
“He initiated the five B’s programmeme in 2015 because during outreaches and campaigns we saw the plight of the children who lived in rural and hinterland areas…who could not attend school regularly because of the long journey to and from school. We saw challenges of parents because they could not afford the cost of transportation. We acted, because this government is a proactive government”.
With over 26 buses servicing the Regions, Region Six has become one of the biggest recipients to the five B’s programmeme. According to the Minister, the programmeme has been successful because the government has been bridging the gap of education between hinterland and coastal regions by providing increased access to transportation for school children. She revealed that school attendance has been significantly improved in areas where the David ‘G’ buses are operating with parents expressing satisfaction with the additional transportation cost being removed.
“We are cognizant that education empowers people with the knowledge, skills and values they need to build an economically sustainable nation”, she said.
In response to the Regional Chairman’s comments made at a recent rally/protest in Berbice; Ally charged, “I want to send the message to your Regional Chairman and those who said that buses are only put in the coalition areas but let me give you the facts. Region Six was not won by the coalition but we have put buses here.
“There are currently three buses in operation in Region Six, one on the East Bank Berbice from Kortbradt – New Amsterdam, Central Corentyne from Rose Hall Town – Number 51 Village and Upper Corentyne from Number 51 Village – Corriverton.
The East Bank route is said to be transporting an average of 180 persons per day with the average bus per student return of $400 per day. Families are able to save an average of $72,000 per day, $360,000 a week and $1.4 million a year, according to Kim Stephens –Williams, the Regional Executive Officer of Region Six. She stated that the numbers are significantly higher for other buses with larger catchment areas.
Proof in the pudding