Rupertee residents want their own primary school

RUPERTEE residents want what the assassinated Malcolm X described as “our passport to the
future” – education.
When Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) Vice Chairman Bertie Xavier recently
toured Rupertee in the sprawling interior community, residents pressed him for a Primary School
in that community.
“During the outreach several issues were raised, and I give the residents my commitment that as
the Regional Vice Chairman I will ensure that these issues are not only looked into but
addressed. As a matter of fact, I intend to raise these very issues at the RDC so that the Council
can determine and take the required action on several of these issues as we seek to bring
resolutions to them,” Xavier said.
As a satellite community, Rupertee residents have grown weary of their children being forced to
travel to Annai to get their education.
“We have a situation where several children from Rupertee travel to attend Annai Primary and
the residents want to have their own school for their residents, thus affording their students to
remain in the village,” Xavier said.
Being anchored in their village from young has lifelong advantages which parents want to
solidify as Malcolm X observed “education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to
the people who prepare for it today.”
The VC agreed with the residents’ calls.
“The students are forced to traverse the very long distances with many of them doing so via foot
to get to school and therefore I think that they are justified by asking for their own primary
school.”

Xavier said there are some 40 students for Rupertee who attend Annai Primary and reasoned that
a primary school in the community would encourage students’ academic pursuits.
Indiscriminate use of public thoroughfares is also a major concern to the Region Nine residents,
“Several of the residents who spoke to me on this issue are requesting that we implement speed
humps along the roadways to aid in reducing road accidents and it is something that I intend to
seriously pursue because of the high number of children and students who usually travers the
roads daily,” Xavier said.

He also met with residents of Kwantamang, another community in Upper Takutu/Upper
Essequibo, who like Rupertee residents, want closure to several longstanding and burning
unresolved issues. He promised to continue to fight for them.