Min. Sarabo-Halley satisfies commitment
— presents financial grants to NGSA top performers
DPI, Guyana, Monday, September 2, 2019
Minister of Public Service, Hon. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, on Monday, handed over cash grants to three students who sat this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
The recipients include Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) top performers Chirtra Ramdihal, of the Cropper Primary School and Pawan Etwaroo of Cumberland Primary, and Jamaine McCalman of Region 10.
Ramdihal and Etwaroo both gained 520 marks and were awarded placement at Queens College, however, they will be attending the Berbice High School, while McCalman’s 510 marks secured him a space at the Saint Stanislaus College.
Minister Sarabo-Halley said that the gesture by her ministry is in keeping with a commitment made during her visit to Region 6 back in July. She said after the NGSA results were released, she subsequently travelled to East Berbice where she handed over two laptops to Ramdihal and Etwaroo respectively, in acknowledgment of their successful performance.
During the visit, Minister Sarabo-Halley reiterated the government’s commitment to assisting the teens as they pursue their secondary education.
“There is another young man from Linden, Mr. McCalman who we helped. So, today what we decided to do is to start the process of assisting them, providing them with funds for textbooks and travelling allowance for McCalman to go to school because he is in Linden but he wants to go to Saint Stanislaus College,” the minister explained.
She noted that while the ministry plans on contributing to other young minds, the three were selected since they would have indicated their need for support. Minister Sarabo-Halley also highlighted that the support provided will not only be a “one-off” effort.
The parents of the students welcomed the support. Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Vanetta Reid-McCalman, mother of Jamaine McCalman, said “I am very thankful. I think it’s a great help and will assist my son in his progress.”
Expressing gratitude also was Chirtra Ramdihal’s mother, Reshma Jebode. “We are very happy that the Government of Guyana has decided to assist us with my daughter’s studies. This is a boost for us,” the woman noted.
The three students each received a sum of $50,000 each.