Development Bank jumpstarts efforts to equip school library
By Staff Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Head Teacher Joycelyn Pennyfeather (left) is joined by pupils in displaying some of the books. On the left is Coralee Benjamin while Shavon Douglas is standing in the back, centre
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (June 18, 200) – AFTER 30 years of existence without a library, efforts started in 2004 by staff of the Edgar T. Morris Primary School to equip the institution with a functional library received a shot in the arm Wednesday morning when the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis presented the first batch of library books.
The books were handed over to the Head Teacher, Joycelyn Pennyfeather, by two officials from the Development Bank - Senior Projects Officer Shavon Douglas and Coralee Benjamin, Support Officer in the Human Resource and Marketing Department.
During the handing over ceremony, Head Teacher Joycelyn Pennyfeather observed that the school serves to educate children ages six through 12 in Tabernacle Village and surrounding communities of Belle View and Christchurch.
“Children are taught the essentials in reading and math along with all subjects required to successfully enroll in any secondary school,” commented the Head Teacher. “In over 30 years of existence, students attending the school have never had the opportunity to take advantage of a functioning library and all the benefits a library provides.”
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Pupils follow the proceedings. Standing on the left is Peace Corp volunteer Gisela Martinez
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She said that since 2004, the staff, with the support of students and members of the community begun to work towards building a library where they painted a mural in the library room. Since reading allows students to strengthen their writing skills as well as their vocabulary and promotes learning, and there being no books in the library, she made an appeal to the Development Bank for assistance.
Our friends from the Development Bank, who have been very good to us in the past, are here today to present to us some resource material for our library and this morning we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the gesture they have given us and we know that in the years to come we will all benefit from the resources that are here,” Pennyfeather observed.
In presenting the books, Benjamin said that the bank responded to the school’s request by purchasing the set of books, ranging in subject categories from resource, languages, technology/applied sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, music, and philosophy. “We are very pleased to present them to the Edgar T. Morris Primary School and trust and hope that this library would only expand, and that you may make good use of your library.”
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Grade four pupil Juanita Johnson gives the vote of thanks
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Peace Corp volunteer Gisela Martinez said that since joining the school in August 2007, she observed that while there was space for a library, the school did not have a functioning library and therefore took it as her first project to equip the library. She thanked Pennyfeather for the support given in her pursuit to start a library at the school, as books were a necessity and not optional.
The vote of thanks was delivered by fourth-grader, nine-year-old Juanita Johnson, who said: “On behalf of the pupils and staff of the Edgar T. Morris Primary School, we would like to express our most sincere gratitude for your generous contribution following the completion of the school library. We the students assure you that the books will be looked after and we will benefit immensely from reading the books, and that our knowledge of different subjects will greatly improve as well.”
The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis (DBSKN) was establishment by an Act of Parliament NO. 1 of 1981. The Act was further amended in April of 1983 by Parliament. ~~Adz:Right~~
It is wholly owned by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, but it is fully autonomous and operates independently with a Board of Directors, General Manager and a team of staff members. It falls under the direct responsibility of the Minister of Finance, with the Bank’s Manager having direct responsibilities for the day-to-day administration of the financial institution.
The Development Bank is organised to provide financial and general credit services for the purpose of achieving a reasonable rate of return on shareholders’ equity consistent with prudent risk exposure and the development objectives of the institution.
It is primarily involved in lending to the following sectors: Tourism Related Ventures, Agro- industry, Manufacturing sectors, Agriculture, Education, and Housing. DBSKN also provides various types of short and medium-term loans for personal development and Business Support Services for clients.
