Easier and safer commute for school children, farmers of Kariako Village

Residents of Kariako Village, Region One in the Barama River, are celebrating a major community development with the arrival of their first-ever transport service.

The introduction of a dedicated community bus marks a significant milestone for the hinterland village, where transportation has long posed a challenge due to its remote location and limited infrastructure.

The new service is also expected to have an immediate and lasting impact on education within the community.

Schoolchildren, who previously faced long, difficult and sometimes unsafe journeys to access classrooms, will now benefit from safer, more reliable daily transportation. This improvement is anticipated to boost school attendance, reduce student fatigue and create a more consistent learning environment.

Beyond education, the transport service is set to transform daily life for residents. Improved mobility will allow easier access to healthcare services, markets and administrative centres, reducing travel time and costs. It also opens opportunities for small-scale economic activity, enabling farmers and vendors to transport goods more efficiently and potentially increase their income.

The initiative delivers on a commitment made by Minister of Agriculture Sarah Browne-Shadeek during a recent visit to Kariako Village, where she engaged directly with residents and identified transportation as a critical need. (DPI)