Mrs Hyleta Liburd is being assisted by Mrs Alice Swanston in the cutting of the ribbon, while looking on are Premier Amory (right) and Minister Livingston Herbert.

“Very often members of the private sector have more resources both human and financial than the government and we recognise that in establishing the partnerships we can mobilise more resources to effect the on-going transformation of our island home,” said the Premier on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Charlestown Primary School during the official opening ceremony of a new block that houses a computer laboratory, library and classrooms, he pointed out that the inauguration was part of the on-going development of Nevis, which had been set out in the programme of the CCM Government.

“It makes no sense for us as a government if we can raise the resources to wait until the world has passed us by and then start to play catch-up,” said the Premier. Lamenting that Nevis had played catch-up for as many as fifty years he remarked: “It is incumbent on those of us who are called to lead to do just that and to make sure that we project into the future.”

Three private sector companies were singled out as having played a role in the project. TDC, which was represented by Ms Keesha Jones, donated tiles, as did S. L. Horsford, for a number of the classrooms, while the Bank of Nevis, which was represented by its Company Secretary Ms Lyra Richards made a commitment to donate a television set and a VCR.

The most moving donation came from the pupils of the school, who each donated at least a book for their new library, to complement the books that had been donated by the Nevis Public Library, which was represented by the Chief Librarian, Mrs Sonita Daniel.

Chairing the session, Acting Principal Education Officer Mrs Lornette Manner, commented that none of the development that was being inaugurated would have happened, if the Nevis Island Administration had not grasped the opportunity to stretch its limited resources and seek to satisfy the need for more classroom space at the institution.

“We applaud their resourcefulness,” said Mrs Manners. “The dedicated and committed team comprising the staff and principal of Charlestown Primary School along with the supportive parents have promised that they will take good care of this building, which comprises reading resources room, a school library, a computer laboratory and a kindergarten classroom which have all been entrusted in their care.”

Both Premier Amory and Mrs Manners praised the Hon Mr. A. Michael Perkins, the area parliamentary representative and Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development, who was not at the function as he had travelled on official Government business, for going beyond the call to duty to ensure that land was available for the new block and that work proceeded according to plan.

“We are grateful for his diligence and his enthusiasm to ensure that the infrastructure has been put in place here at Charlestown Primary School,” commented Mrs Manners. 

Mr Joseph Wiltshire, education officer in charge of science and technology, told the large gathering that just over three years ago, the Nevis Island Administration made a promise to have computer labs established at all the government schools on the island.

“Today’s activity underscores the fact that we have edged closer to the fulfilment of that promise,” said Mr Wiltshire. “The commissioning of this facility brings to eight, the number of schools that are equipped with computer labs. This computer lab is an improvement on the others, and I dare say, it is the best computer lab on the island.”

In his brief remarks, Junior Minister in charge of Education and Library Services, the Hon Mr J. Livingston Herbert, promised the school fraternity that even though land was scarce in the St. Paul’s Parish, the Government would try hard to ensure that the school got a proper play field.

A beaming Charlestown Primary School principal Mrs Alice Swanston gave the vote of thanks and after the cutting of the ribbon was done by the former Principal Education Officer, Mrs Hyleta Liburd, she (Swanston) led the visiting dignitaries in inspecting the new classrooms as the schools’ chaplain, Father George Agger of the Catholic Church in Nevis, blessed them.

The function was also attended by education officers and principals from the various schools on the island and members of the Charlestown Primary School Parent-Teacher Association.