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Mrs Celia Johnson-Archibald cuts the ribbon to signal the commissioning of the Celia Johnson-Archibald (CJA) Computer Training Facility while Hon Jean Harris (L) and Premier Hon Vance Amory (centre) look on. |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (September 19, 2005) --
Hon Jean Harris, Parliamentary Representative for the St. James Constituency and Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), has called on her constituents to make use of any educational opportunities available to them, citing that education was essential to their development and that it was critical to their advancement particularly in the era of modern technology.
Mrs Harris made the call during the official naming and commissioning of the Celia Johnson-Archibald Computer Training Facility at the Whitehall Recreation Grounds in Brick Kiln Village on Friday September 16, 2005.
She called on her constituents to use the computer facility for their personal advancement to prepare themselves for a better life.
Residents of Brick Kiln, my advice to all of you is to use the facility, absorb the computer training, value it, watch over it, safeguard it and prepare yourself for a better and brighter tomorrow, she said adding that it is a proven fact that there is a direct link between a healthier life and access to education.
The computer training facility Mrs. Harris explained, would lay the groundwork for the NIA to see 60 percent of Nevisians over the age of 15 become computer literate by the year 2010 adding that in the short term two more computer facilities would be constructed in the St. James constituency.
"This means that St. James will not be left behind. The children and adults of St. James will have equal opportunity to advance and excel in a world where computers are common place," she said.
While Mrs Harris acknowledged that each student may not have access to computers at home, she said the Celia Johnson-Archibald Computer Training Facility outfitted with 18 state of the art computers would provide training in a variety of advanced programmes including Microsoft Access and Publisher, internet access and assistance with homework and other academic programmes which she said would equip children with the necessary tools to become more competitive in today's job market.
Mrs. Harris also took the opportunity to thank Mrs Johnson-Archibald for having accepted the honour and lending her name to the facility. She deemed the honouree, an educator for 36 years, as being the area's hero in education and also lauded the efforts of other outstanding women in the constituency whose names grace a number of other facilities.
Premier Hon Vance Amory who was also present at the ceremony echoed Mrs. Harris call and urged the constituents young and old to utilise the facility to experiment with the computers.
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Some youths get a first hand view of the computers at the computer training facility shortly after it was commissioned. |
He told students they should view the facility as being his administration's expanding investment in the development of the youth and to prepare them for the world of work.
"I want to tell you as well that the opening of this facility is part of our ongoing expansion of the investment in our young people... I want to, above all, encourage our young people to see this computer centre as part of the investment of your government in creating a facility so that you can use it for your development.
"To bring you into the modern age, into the 21st century and to equip you to face the world of work to face the world of technology and to feel competent to compete with anyone anywhere in the world and that is the beauty of the computer, once you have knowledge of its usage, operations and its functions you can be on par with anyone in any part of the world and I implore you to use it to your fullest advantage,"he said adding that the computer was a way to bridge gaps between the large developed countries and a small developing country of Nevis.
He said his Concerned Citizens Movement Administration was proud that the constituents had seen it fit to entrust them with the management of the affairs of Nevis and believed that they were satisfied with the level of development the administration had brought to the island.
According to the Premier, the facility was part of his administration's commitment to the development of the people of Nevis in particular the villagers in the St. James constituency. He noted that Mrs. Harris was instrumental in insisting that the government expedite its involvement in the creation of those facilities around the island and lauded her efforts
In giving brief remarks, Mrs Johnson Archibald thanked the NIA through Mrs Harris for considering her a fit and proper person to receive the honour and was hopeful that the members of the community would make maximum use of the facility to become more computer literate and asked them to take care of the facility.
Other brief remarks came from Hon Malcolm Guishard chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nevis Housing and Lands Development Corporation while Father Alric Francis Sr. gave the invocation and blessed the building. Ms Terrenz Wallace gave the closing remarks and Ms Andrea Nisbett chaired the event.
