President David Granger, yesterday attended Heritage Day celebrations at Riversview Village, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Region Ten where he declared that education was not a sideshow and is central to the development of the entire Indigenous Community and the entire country.
The celebration of National Indigenous Heritage Day marks the day, when Stephen Campbell became the first Amerindian Member of Parliament in Guyana on September 10, 1957. In 1995 September was officially designated to be Amerindian Heritage Month. This year’s celebration was hosted by Riverview Village under the theme, “Maintaining our cultural practices while promoting a green economy.”
Riverview’s location is unique in that it straddles two regions, the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region and the Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven)
The President, who is presently heading a caretaker administration, in his remarks acknowledged that Riversview Village needs human capital to turn promise into prosperity and noted that the village is on the verge of a farming, logging, mining, and touring economy, stated a Ministry of the Presidency release.
“All of these economic activities can bring wealth and prosperity to the people of Riversview and this beautiful village. But how will you do it? How will you attract the eco-tourists? How will you attract the revenue from mining and logging? You will do so with an educated population. Education is not a sideshow. Education is central to the development not only of Riversview, but [the] entire Indigenous Community, the entire Region Seven and Ten and the entire country,” Granger said.
He added that education will equip not only the nation’s children, but those of Riversview with the knowledge and skills needed to transform the resources into riches and enable them to develop the economy and open opportunities for employment.
In May 2016, the Head of State visited the community to hand over two boats, one to assist in the event of health emergencies and, the other, a ‘David G’ boat to transport children to school in Bartica.
He reminded those present that education is supported by the Public Education Transport Service (PETS or 5Bs) which is essential to school attendance. The provision of the school boat has resulted in significant reduction in absenteeism and significant savings for parents who were paying more than $20,000 per month for one child to attend school in Bartica.
“As long as I am President, you will never have to pay. You can now use those savings to improve the quality of life in your homes and villages. This Education Month is a very significant month for all of us because it is the pathway to development and the pathway to giving your children a better opportunity to succeed,” the President was quoted as saying.
With both Indigenous Heritage Month and Education Month being observed in September, the Head of State said educational development is the pathway to Indigenous people’s development. “Everyone has a better chance in the modern economy with its emphasis on knowledge-based industries, if he has a good education,” the President said.
According to the MoTP release, he also referenced his Government’s policy of ‘Every child in school’ and averred that “We want every child to have access to education, to attend school regularly and to graduate from school with the knowledge, skills and values to be able to provide for his or her family”.
“I would like Riversview to adopt that motto so that nowhere in this village, this community, region should children be prevented from going to school and doing well in school. Children must be given access; they must be allowed to attend school and they must achieve high results,” the President asserted.
“It doesn’t matter where you were born, it doesn’t matter where you grow up, once you achieve education through our public education system, nobody can kick you around,” Granger said, even as he urged youth to remain in school. “There is a golden prize waiting for you,” he said, adding that “education is essential to success”.
The President charged all villagers to take responsibility for every child in Riversview Village noting that it takes a
village to raise successful citizens in this country.
“Today my friends, we are on the threshold of another revolution in hinterland education…Where will the money come from? It is not going to come from the sky, it is going to come from the sea. Our petroleum resources will be invested first and foremost in you and your children to provide world class education for the Guyanese population,” the President told the gathering.
He also let it be known that “Education is at the top of my list…Education is the cornerstone of development. This is not a pipe dream; this is not an elections slogan. This comes from the supreme law of the land; this comes from the Constitution.”
The Constitution of Guyana says, “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”
