Region One donates school boat, engine for Unity Grant children

Over 30 students from Unity Grant who are enrolled in the Warapoka Primary and Nursery schools, in Region One, are expected to benefit from the recent donation of a 30-ft boat and 15 horse power engine.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday reported Region One Regional Executive Officer ( REO) Tikaram Bisesar as saying that the donation is the realisation of a commitment made to residents during an outreach earlier this year.

He said that the community’s previous boat was irreparable so the region pledged to provide a vessel for the students, who travel approximately two hours from the village to attend school. This boat will cut travelling time in half.

“At this moment, we have already given the boat to the community and so all [that is] left is to deliver the engine. The

Regional Education Officer will soon make the trip to take the engine,” the REO was quoted as saying.

Unity Grant, located along the Waini River, boasts a population of just under 100 persons, including children.

In addition, the DPI reported Bisesar as saying that the regional administration has also started to rehabilitate several schools and to install the necessary amenities to bring them into compliance with the COVID-19 measures.

The works include some rollover projects that the administration hopes to complete on schools like the Port Kaituma Primary and Secondary and the construction and enclosure of living quarters at Manawarin. Renovations are also ongoing at the Matthews Ridge Nursery and Primary and extensions of the Whitewater Primary School, among others.

“Most of the works commenced. We are hoping that everything can be completed by year-end and in other instances, we will have a few rollover projects in 2021, but those will be major infrastructural projects,” Bisesar added.

The REO also noted that the administration’s education programme is quite extensive and it hopes to improve the delivery of education in the region.