Basseterre, St. Kitts - In the face of a petition of over 2000 persons calling on the government to grant consultation in the renaming of the Sandy Point High School, Cabinet is moving forward in changing the name of the community landmark in honour of former educator Charles Mills.
Over a month ago, SPIRIT launched a petition for any decision regarding any name change of the school to be delayed until widespread and thorough consultations were carried out in the various communities the school serves.In a matter of two weeks, over 2000 past and present students and staff, businesspersons and residents impacted by the reach of the school joined in the call for consultation.
We are saddened to inform that three weeks following the submission of this petition, Senator Nigel Carty responded in letter making his position clear that "no consideration be given to the matter". The letter speaks to the work of Charles Mills ad the record of similar decisions being made in the past, making no mention of the importance of consultation in such a far-reaching community decision.
SPIRIT takes no comfort in past cases where consultations were not carried out as such a practice is contrary to participatory democracy whether carried out today or in the past. SPIRIT was of the view and was therefore very pleased that such a practice was merely a thing of the past as the White Paper on Education makes consideration for widespread consultation in such matters going forward. We were further pleased to find out that the recent renaming process of the Lodge Infant and the Molyneaux Primary Schools saw much leadership from and consultations with those communities, as it was seen by the government as a requirement in its thrust towards constituency empowerment. This is really what the 2000 plus individuals requested by signing on to the petition.
SPIRIT, in a letter dated September 21, clarified a number of statements made by Carty and advanced the call for consultation in the matter.
During the seven weeks of the petition, SPIRIT has been subject of political criticism. We recognize that this is the usual yet unfortunate attack that independent organizations suffer especially when they demonstrate the civic-mindedness to scrutinize and question the actions of any government. We wish to categorically state that SPIRIT remains true to its mandate of community empowerment and the advancement of Pride, Virtues and Civics, the banner under which the petition was launched. We are continuing our cause for developing Sandy Point without bias to any political view.
SPIRIT has been informed that the SPHS: the institution that has developed thousands of students and teachers into today's leaders; the institution that has set almost 50 years of pride in academic and athletic excellence, leading the way for public education in the Eastern Caribbean; the school that mothers about 8 communities will be renamed shortly, without consultation of the many who call this institution there alma mater.
SPIRIT urges Cabinet to adopt a more progressive approach in renaming community buildings and, institutions and encourage the essence of real participatory democracy and constituency empowerment that it often preaches. This can only lend to good governance.
We also wish to thank all those with the courage to stand up and make a call for consultation. Continue to make your voice heard in matters that threaten healthy democratic practices and matters that stand to make a significant change in the community in which you live.
