Ebenezer Thomas Primary School adopted today

Roadtown, Tortola - Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Andrew Fahie represented the Ministry today at a ceremony for the adoption of the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School. The school which was adopted by First Caribbean International Bank, received a cheque that will be used to improve the school. The contribution will be made to the school each year.

Speaking at the adoption and cheque presentation ceremony Minister Fahie recounted his experience as a former student of the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School. He also remarked that he was pleased that the bank could join the ministry in its mandate to provide for the schools in the Territory modern facilities and resources to help students learn.

“I am pleased when the community, especially the business community joins the Ministry in this endeavour” he said.

Presenting the cheque on behalf of First Caribbean International Bank, Mr. Kenneth Dawson said the adoption of the school is closely related to the objectives of the ‘Adapt-a-Cause’ programme.

“Around the same time as First Caribbean was considering the cause that it would adopt the Honourable Minister Fahie had sent the bank an invitation to sponsor a school. The similar goals of the two programmes made it a very easy and natural decision and we subsequently identified the Ebenezer Thomas Primary as the school we would sponsor”, he explained.

In accepting the cheque on behalf of the school, Principal Mrs. Sybil Hodge outlined a number of things at the school that could benefit from the donation. She also thanked the ministry for creating the programme through which the school was adopted.

Also giving remarks at the ceremony Mrs. Collette Corea-Saunders, chair of the ‘Adopt-a-School’ programme pointed out the reluctance of businesses to engage in such sponsorship at this time due to the economic downturn. On that note she thanked First Caribbean International Bank for maintaining their interest in adopting the school.

The ‘Adopt-a-School’ programme is administered by a Government appointed board. It aims to find businesses in the Territory that will adopt a school or school organisation through financial contributions. First Caribbean International Bank has a similar programme named ‘Adopt-a-Cause’. The bank was able to merge with the existing programme housed in the Ministry to make their donation.