But while that manatee and her calf didn't make it, a younger farmer is happy to get a calf of his own. 9-year-old Brayden Gillett of Blackman Eddy had been raising another young cow for almost a year when it was stolen. The Minister of Agriculture heard this story and, with the collaboration of the Mennonite community in Shipyard, were able to get a new calf for Brayden.
In this video from the Government's Press Office, Minister Jose Mai spoke about the importance of the gift to young Brayden.
Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"The young man like Brayden is giving them another opportunity in life. The future of this country depends on people like these. This young man has a tremendous ambition, he wants to be a cowboy, he wants to be a cattle farmer and so by doing this we are securing the future for this child. The cattle farmers are happy because they have a market for their animals, from November 12th up to now we've exported 20,034 heads of animals. That's something like 28-29 million dollars. They are happy when they are making ends meet. They have no problem in contributing something to a child who is struggling and who wants to be somebody in life. We have good people around that how Brayden received this animal through the kind gesture of our farmers."
There was a brief handing over ceremony which took place on the ground of the community center in the village.
