A welcome move

Guyana Chronicle – April 16, 2008

Dear Editor,

The Government of Guyana has set aside one hundred million dollars in this year’s budget to help single parents. There are thousands of women in Guyana without a husband, but they have many children to feed and send to schools. Many of them are uneducated; do not have any skills to acquire a decently paid job. They are finding it hard to cope with everyday living.

Many of them have their children fathers alive. Those husbands that are alive simply turned their backs against their wives and children and do not care how they exist or whether the children go school or beg.

Government over the years has been providing help to the vulnerable group through the poverty reduction programmes. Therefore the decision by the Government to move in this direction to help single parents is most welcome.

Baldeo Persaud

Programme launched to reintegrate teenage mothers into schools

Guyana Chronicle – April 16, 2008
By Tajeram Mohabir

CHIEF Schools’ Welfare Officer, Mrs. Yvonne Arthur yesterday urged parents to bond with their teenage daughters who became mothers in school to restore their self-esteem and avoid further degeneration in society.

She made the appeal at the official launch of a Ministry of Education programme to integration teenage mothers in schools convened at the National Centre for Educational Research Development (NCERD), Kingston.

The programme which started last year was held under the theme “Assisting to Achieve Quality Education through Re-integration” started last year.

The initiative is in keeping with the millennium development goals and targets youths primarily in Regions 4, ( Demerara/Mahaica); 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 7 ( Cuyuni/Mazaruni). Those regions were represented by their schools welfare officers.  

CLICO steps forward to help spinal tumour patient

Stabroek News – April 16, 2008

Life for nineteen-year-old Tashana Corlette has been extremely difficult over the last five months after a tumour was discovered growing on her spine and her parents were advised that she had to travel overseas for medical attention.

Since then her parents have been quietly appealing for money and on Monday CLICO answered their cries and donated $100,000 towards the operation.

Corlette needs approximately $15M to be properly diagnosed and treated abroad. CLICO’s donation has upped the sum gathered so far to approximately $5.5M.

Just before handing over the cheque to Corlette’s father Terrence, the company’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Venita Bovell encouraged all to pray not only for Corlette but for all the young people who are plagued with illnesses, especially cases like hers.