Wakenaam Welcomes Dr. Jagdeo

President meets with members of Wakenaam community
Written by
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 04:51
At Maria’s Pleasure Primary School
-Promises community continued developmental works, computers and playground for school
President Bharrat Jagdeo last Monday met with residents of the Wakenaam community at the Maria’s Pleasure Primary School. The pleasure of the residents at this visit by the President was evident as successive speakers lauded his leadership and his various accomplishments, especially his receiving the Champion of the Earth award from UNEP and his being conferred with a doctorate from the Patrice Lumumba University in Russia.
A senior mistress outlined the history of the school, which was founded by Canadian Missionaries on November 3, 1925. However, after the school was nationalized in 1963, the conditions deteriorated to the extent that it became inhabitable, causing the building to be abandoned, with classes being held in two churches and a private home.
After the PPP assumed office some repairs were done in 1996, but these were inadequate and, after several unsuccessful representations were made to various bodies by members of staff, President Jagdeo visited the island and, instead of heeding the residents’ requests for repairs to be done on the building, he instructed that a new school be built, which resulted in classes resuming in the new structure in January of 2008.
The speakers promised the President to always care for and cherish the school, which they described as their “pride and joy.” They thanked the President profusely for his generous gesture.
They requested a re-structuring of the building to provide adequate space to facilitate activities that necessitate expanded accommodation, as well as a child-friendly environment in the school compound.
The President expressed his pleasure at the welcome he received from the residents and spoke also of his wish to provide the best facilities for the children in the country, except that the economy, while constantly improving, is still constrained, because this Government started out from a very low base.
Saying that the nation’s children need and deserve a better life than obtained previously, the President informed the gathering that Government has a very aggressive programme in education to ensure that there is a steep growth, not only in the quality of the education provided Guyana’s children, but also in the facilities that they enjoy.
He said that the crusher-run that was put in from Sara to Caledonia had improved travel somewhat, but that Government has approved roadworks that will cost an approximate $50 million. He also mentioned that, despite criticisms, the airstrip, which cost an initial $14 million for the land, with additional sums to be expended in the actual construction, is a necessity which could save lives in the event of a medical emergency where an airlift would be required.
Speaking of interventions in D & I and other areas that the Government has made in the farming community, the President said that he is aware of the suffering farmers endure when erratic weather patterns cause them to lose their crops. He promised residents that a long-boom Hymac will soon be deployed on a permanent basis to help with D & I and other necessary activities.
Making reference to the vulnerability of Guyana to the effects of climate change, President Jagdeo said that approximately one billion dollars have been allocated to coastal zone management, including the mangrove project.
Speaking of the criticisms of his trips abroad to heighten awareness and to bring focus on the need for money in exchange for forest preservation, the President alluded to the snide comments about ‘Jagdeo making another trip to look at saving the world’ and explained the necessity to use our resources – in this instance our rainforests, to benefit our country, which lies below sea level and has many great needs to mitigate the effects and adapt to climate change.
He explained the urgent imperative of harnessing the affordability to be able to withstand the deleterious impacts of climate change and to sustain Guyana’s upward developmental trajectory through the LCDS, because the world needs to be kept healthy so that all the children could grow up and be ensured of a better life.
The President said that climate change is related in a direct way to our livelihood, so there is no choice but that our country should focus on it, because there is such a strong concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
He promised the school in excess of $500,000 to create a child-friendly playground, as well as four computers, which he said should also be made available to the adults on the island, because it is his intention that everyone becomes computer-literate. To facilitate electricity at the school during daylight hours, the President also promised to look into the possibility of providing a solar panel so that the schoolchildren can be able to use the computers. He also agreed to the school’s request for a re-structuring of a wall to facilitate more spacial requirements.
He subsequently engaged members of the community, who expressed concerns that he promised to have the relevant agencies address.
The warm and affectionate welcome with which people the length and breadth of Guyana greets President Jagdeo is indicative of the iconic stature that he has attained, both here at home and abroad. In Wakenaam he was showered with flowers, with petals forming a carpet for him to walk on, a traditionally auspicious act brought to this country by immigrants and sustained until today.
He is respectful to his elders and in return they shower him with an abundance of love and blessings. Schoolchildren and young adults idolize him. One only has to witness the response to his presence in the rural areas to be able to accurately gauge the extent of his popularity.
His trip to Wakenaam accomplished much in minimal time, not least reinforcing the trust reposed in the President by the people of the land.

QUOTE: The warm and affectionate welcome with which people the length and breadth of Guyana greets President Jagdeo is indicative of the iconic stature that he has attained, both here at home and abroad. In Wakenaam he was showered with flowers, with petals forming a carpet for him to walk on, a traditionally auspicious act brought to this country by immigrants and sustained until today…One only has to witness the response to his presence in the rural areas to be able to accurately gauge the extent of his popularity. His trip to Wakenaam accomplished much in minimal time, not least reinforcing the trust reposed in the President by the people of the land.