Annual Easter Swimming Programme begins on March 26

In what has become a successful initiative for the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport (MCYS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), the annual Easter Vacation National Swimming Programme will officially commence on Tuesday, March 26th.
The programme, which had its rebirth in 2022 and is free of cost, has evolved into a national policy that is tailored to children and individuals aged 18. The programme will also cater to individuals with disabilities, further extending its scope of importance and impact.
It will be implemented at four facilities, underscoring its national nature. Those facilities are: the Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, the site of its intended launch; the Colgrain Swimming Pool on Camp Street in Georgetown; the Watooka Swimming Pool in Linden; and the Albion Estate Pool in East Berbice.
Experienced national coach Paul Mahaica will again reprise his role as programme coordinator and lead trainer.

In excess of 7,000 individuals participated in 2023, which also encompassed the novel Adult Learning Programme. Similarly, more than 12,000 participants have utilised the programme since its re-imagining in 2022.
Director of Sports, Steve Ninvalle, has said, “Since it’s rebirth in 2022, overwhelming, to put it mildly, might be an understatement in terms of the response that has been garnered for this programme. The initiative, which is essentially the process of teaching a life skill, has developed into a cultural phenomenon, and that is evident by the immense support that has been afforded.”
According to Ninvalle, “While the groundwork would have been done in the previous editions in sensitising the populace about the programme via several different avenues, inclusive of social media, it’s resulting success during that period and it’s expected and continued eminence going forward are primary reasons for its continued historic turnout.”
Ninvalle further said, “With the mammoth turnout that is once again a reality, safety is the guiding star and the building block of this programme, which has never had an unfortunate consequence or episode. We intend to maintain that unblemished record in every regard as we strive to create the ideal environment for learning, social interactions, and discourse; so that this initiative can continue its upward trajectory.
“With success, the natural tendency or progression is for expansion. That is a reality that is being explored as queries have emanated from other environs about that possibility, as the programme is currently being staged in three regions. A gradual but structured expansion is being explored for both programs,” he further stated.