BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN what was another step towards better facilities for students of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School, a new two-storey building was formally blessed and opened at a ceremony on the school grounds yesterday morning (Feb. 16).
Parents, students, members of the school staff and board, and representatives from the Federal Cabinet and civic society were present for the momentous occasion, which is part of the overall move to combine St. Joseph’s School and St. Theresa’s Convent School into one institution by September.
The initiative is sponsored by Daniel and Kathleen Mezzalingua and the rest of the Mezzalingua family, and was inspired by the late Laurie Mezzalingua, who initially spearheaded the project.
The building will host the first integrated classes between the two schools and boasts an elevator, air-conditioning, internet and telephone services, and wheelchair access for disabled persons. Principal Lisa Pistana noted that when the decision to revamp the schools was made, the board had only possessed “a dream and a prayer”, but thanks to the Mezzalingua’s charity, staff and students had received a “magnificent gift”.
In a brief speech, the married couple reassured of their continued commitment to the transformation of the schools, which kicked off in January 2007 with a ground-breaking ceremony.
“We heard at a staff meeting that the students don’t have the proper labs, so future buildings, of which there will be seven, will be chemistry labs and physics labs and will have the latest and greatest in technology,” said Daniel. “We are not finished with this one building. We believe in you, now you believe in you.”
The family previously funded a building to house a library and learning studies programmes, appropriately named “The Laurie Mezzalingua Education Centre”.
Freshly appointed Minister of Education, Hon. Senator Nigel Carty, said he was impressed with the quality of the infrastructure so far and thanked the Mezzalinguas for their sustained benevolence. He promised to build on the “strong relationship” his predecessors had shared with the schools’ administration.
“I value the opportunity to share in the beginning of the new journey as you strive to deliver improved teaching services. We thought it fitting to be here as a Cabinet because education is the driving force for our economic development.
“As the new Minister responsible for Education, I deem it an honour and I am humbled to have been given the opportunity. I will be responsive, accessible and assist in any way I can to ensure continuation of government’s partnership.”
With the exception of Hon. Glenn Phillip and Hon. Richard Skerritt, each member of the nine-person Cabinet was present for the ceremony, as well as His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian and his Deputy.
Prior to yesterday’s ceremony, a dinner in honour of the Mezzalingua family was held at Royal St. Kitts Hotel on Saturday (Feb. 14). A special memorial mass for Laurie Mezzalingua was conducted the following day at the Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral.
