People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Opposition Leader, Brigadier (retired) David Granger has repeated his call for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration to provide road and riverine transportation for schoolchildren, particularly those in rural and hinterland communities.
This call comes in the wake of demands made to Minister within the Finance Ministry Juan Edghill when he met residents of Coomaka, Elizabeth Maria -Three Friends, Old England and Nothinghamshire.
According to an APNU press release, residents complained about poor transportation service for school-age children. According to a GINA report, residents “implored the Minister to intervene as they complained that during the rainy season, children are forced to stay at home because no transportation is available. However, in instances where children decide to brave the harsh condition and walk to central Linden to attend school, their parents worry about their safety. They said: “These children does walk for miles to go to school and they come home late at nights. If we get a minibus to collect all the school children in the mines, it would encourage the children to go to school more.”
Another resident noted that the children in the communities are eager to go to school, but because of bad weather, they are forced to stay at home and in some instances miss end-of-term examinations.
The residents indicated to the Minister their willingness to ensure that the bus once provided is maintained and used for the purposes intended. Noting Government’s commitment towards improving the education sector and building the human capital, Minister Edghill said he will make representation to Cabinet for a school bus for the communities.
Granger, addressing the PNCR 18th Biennial Delegates Congress in July this year called for free transportation, among other things, for schoolchildren. Granger promised: “We shall start by ensuring that no child is prevented from attending school because of parental poverty. We shall ensure that every primary school child is transported to school by boat or bus. We shall ensure that every primary school child starts the school day with a healthy breakfast at school. We shall reward every family that keeps its children in school. Protecting children is a PNCR priority.”
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