Thousands of children were yesterday presented with Christmas gifts at a function hosted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima. Persad-Bissessar personally handed out many of the gifts, which included a toy, a copybook (with a picture of her) and a calendar, which also carried a picture of her. Sources estimate close to 100 Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buses were used to transport the children to and from the event.
National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, Justice Minister Herbert Volney, Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar, Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma, Sport Minister Anil Roberts, Arima MP Rodger Samuel and chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Khadijah Ameen attended the function. Persad-Bissessar, in a brief address to the audience, thanked the corporate sponsors and non-government organisations for their respective roles in ensuring the event was successful. She said not one cent was used from taxpayers to fund the event. Persad-Bissessar, in extending compliments of the season to all present, urged that the citizens "share the love and the spirit goodwill.