Primary schools to enjoy huge benefits from NIA’s stimulus package

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – PRIMARY schools across the island will enjoy huge benefits from the stimulus package orchestrated by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).

Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry told journalists at a recent press conference that each primary school would benefit in one way or another from the package which, he said, was put together to create employment as well as meet some of the government’s other objectives.

According to Parry, one of these objectives includes providing all primary schools with computers: “Each school will have a computer bank and so the children will have access to those computers.”

He said a recent survey on poverty alleviation showed that Nevis has one of the highest per capita computer usages in homes in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). So, the move is good for the children who are exposed to computers at home, at school and in the communities.

Schools will also benefit through the School Meals Programme which government plans to establish throughout the island.
“The two major schools – Charlestown and Gingerland – have no such programme. We are using this package to build kitchens in these two schools, so come September we anticipate the School Meals Programme will start again.”

Meanwhile, the Premier revealed that the poverty alleviation assessment also showed that the Meals Programme has helped to lift the standard of living on the island.

“It is not just a matter of giving food,” he said, “it is the kind of nutritious food that helps the children.” 

He said the assessment also identified the text books provided by government and the Homework Assistance Programme are helping to lift the standard of living on Nevis to the point where “we have moved from 32 percent of poverty to 15 percent”. 

Other plans for the schools from the stimulus package include fixing the school yard at the Ivor Walters Primary, fencing the new school at St John’s, providing a kitchen at the White Hall School in St. James, putting down a playing area for VOJ in Combermere, and building classrooms at the overcrowded St. Thomas.

The Charlestown Secondary School is also expected to benefit, with the construction of four additional classrooms and improvements to the staff room.

According to Parry, some other objectives of the government include ensuring the water pressure in Gingerland and Brasier is adequate. He said that the current six-inch pipes feeding into eight-inch pipes would have to be changed. 

Government is also targeting community centres with the areas identified being Jessups, St. James and Fountain, where work has already begun.

The Premier justified the community centres by saying they help to fight crime since they provide a place for children to go to for after-school and good recreational activities. 

Also on the cards are a police station and clinic at Cotton Ground. Plans are also in train to expand the play field at Cotton Ground and provide affordable homes in its immediate environs. 

According to the Premier, these are all activities that would create employment.

“In every parish in Nevis there will be activity and Nevisian contractors will be employed. We anticipate they will be employing their own people to ensure we keep people employed. Keep money circulating and keep the economy at a certain level for the rest of the year as we hope the recession goes away and the Four Seasons reopens.