Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 28, 2014 (SKNIS): Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and the Minister of Education the Hon. Nigel Carty has reassured the staff and students of the Basseterre High School (BHS) that the Ministry is doing all in its power to ensure their health and safety.
In a statement during Friday’s (October 24) sitting of Parliament, the Education Minister stated that this is a subject on which “all the relevant agencies of Government have become fully engaged fully to ensure that we approach this matter with the relevant sensitivities and sensibilities and with the considerations of the health, well being and the education of the persons operating within the Basseterre High School environment.”
He added that they will “seek to address this matter with the full cognisance of all of the evidence physical, emotional and others that ought to be properly at the heart of all considerations.”
The Prime Minister has stated that he has been moved by the situation and gave his approval to all requested expenditure.
“In this issue again I emphasise, as we have consistently said in our Cabinet meetings money must not be a limiting factor to get it right at the Basseterre High School,” the Prime Minister explained. “This is because we have given our parents and our guardians the assurance that we shall do our very best in providing learning opportunities to our students and to their children in an environment that is conducive to their health and also to that of the teachers.
“As Government we will do everything possible and reasonable to ensure that all stakeholders are confident that the Basseterre High School reverts to being indeed a safe and stable school environment. In keeping with and maintaining its position as a leading educational institution in our Federation, we give you our utter commitment...that the necessary adjustments would be made in the interests of the greater good.”
The Prime Minister added that he will give the teachers and the students at the BHS the assurance that they have his complete support and understanding and looks forward to having close interactions working with the teachers and with the students working together as they move forward to work with all to bring resolutions to “this longstanding and very concerning important matter.”
As a result, the Ministry of Education has once again enlisted the help of the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and local public health agencies to assess the environment.
Around EC $7 million has been spent on the renovations and upgrades at BHS. The Education Minister thanked the Ministry of Finance and other Government agencies for their ongoing support.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
