CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – PREMIER and Minister of Education in the Nevis Island Administration, Hon. Joseph Parry told scores of people gathered at the Netball Complex for the 2009 Back to School Rally that children need role models.
Parry, speaking at the Tuesday’s (Sept. 15) event, said the role models need not be ministers of religion or ministers of government but could be persons from within the community where the child lives. The Premier pointed to some Nevisians who will have landmarks named in their honour in the coming months as some of those role models. A few of those honourees were identified as former cricketer Elquemedo Willett and netball players and administrators Dora Stevens and Cicely Grell-Hull.
Premier Parry urged parents to look for persons in the community to make role models and have the young people look up to them.
This year’s rally saw students showcasing their talents in song, dance and dramatisation. Taking the spotlight were representatives of the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School, Shekinah Dance Theatre, a combined choir from the Gingerland and Charlestown Secondary Schools, the Charlestown Primary School, the Special Education School and Shelisia Glasford of Charlestown Secondary. There were also performances by a combined choir of adults.
Principal Education Officer Lornette Queeley-Connor delivered remarks on behalf of the Education Department, while prayers were offered by Pastor Denzil Roberts, Pastor Eric Maynard and Reverend Cicely Brown.
Chairman of the Back To School Rally Organising Committee Pastor Euclid Lawrence also delivered his “Punch Point” which focused on the rally’s theme “Dare to Change…It’s Possible”
Another important highlight at the event was the offering of nine scholarships to primary school students by the Bank of Nevis. Seven of these scholarships are in the form of Youth Savers’ Accounts.
