BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Dr. William Connor Primary School was on Friday (June 29) adopted by Dr. Duanne Jones, proprietor of Premier Dental.
In a short ceremony held at the school on Boone Avenue, students, teachers and the Minister of Education came out to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding thus forging a partnership between the school and the company.
Mrs. Ionie Liburd-Willet, Permanent Secretary of Education, in her welcome remarks, commended Dr. Jones for taking the school under his wing and officially adopting the school.
She announced that Dr. Jones has pledged a EC$20 000 annual support to the school.
The Permanent Secretary said that the funds would be put towards the upkeep of the school including the development of the library, the purchase of teaching and learning materials and equipment, the development of the school's sports programme, the professional development of the teachers and minor maintenance projects.
Hon. Nigel Carty, Minister of Education and Information said that it is important for not only the private sector but all sectors to give back to the community as it is vital for the success of the younger generation.
"We [government] believe that in order for education to be successful in training our young men and woman, boys and girls, to help them cater to their fullest potential, there is need for partnership between the government and the private sector or among all sectors of society."
He thanked Dr. Jones and his company for having come forward to assist the school in a number of challenges that it is currently experiencing.
Dr. Jones thanked the teachers of the school for the great and essential job that they are doing as they are molding the future doctors, police officers, lawyers etc.
"These children are the ones who are going to build our country and this is the least we can do at Premier Dental" Dr. Jones said.
He made mention of the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child", noting that the children are the future while stating that it is an honour for his company to embark upon this journey as its way of giving back to the community.
Principal of the school, Valencia Syder said, while thanking Dr. Jones, that this new venture derived from a simple joke.
"One day the school needed ink to put in the printer and I went to Premier Dental and asked Dr. Jones to please donate some ink which he agreed to do. I then made a joke and said 'well just adopt the whole school' and here we are today," she explained.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Syder, Dr. Jones and Mrs. Liburd-Willett in the presence of Hon. Nigel Carty.
The ceremony ended with the singing of the school's song.
