Rights of the Child (ROC) has commended NT Computeac for awarding one of its co-coordinators and CSEC 2006 top performer Shirvanie Persaud with a lap-top computer in honour of her achievements.

At a brief handing-over ceremony Managing Director Charles Sweatnham said the company was motivated to honour Persaud not only because of her stellar academic performance but also because of her “outstanding extra-curricula success” as a member of ROC. According to a press release Persaud has chosen to accept the offer of a full scholarship to the UWI’s St Augustine Campus to study medicine instead of a full scholarship to a leading liberal arts college in the USA. While attending Queen’s College as a Sixth Form student Persaud, along with ROC co-coordinator Niccollette Boatswain produced a short documentary titled Hope for Mahaica and presented it at the Sixth Conference on the Environment in Manchester, UK in March. The film won an award at the conference.

Shirvanie Persaud (second from left) with management and employees of the company.

Meanwhile, Usha Sweatnham a recently retired head teacher, said the company was also prompted to make the donation “because Shirvanie’s unusual combination of successes was achieved without the benefit of a privileged economic background” and in this respect she “was an inspiration to young people of all backgrounds to aim high.”

In response, Persaud said she had to set aside her hopes of acquiring a lap-top for economic reasons. She said too she applauds the company’s decision not to focus solely on academic achievements because she felt too many students are absorbed in extra classes to the exclusion of extra-curricular activities. Persaud also said she was committed to returning to Guyana on completion of her studies.