The Government of Dominica has been providing the resources and infrastructure to ensure a comfortable learning environment for students of the Grandbay Primary School.
Youth Minister and Parliamentary representative for the Grandbay Constituency Hon. Justina Charles during her address at the Grandbay Primary School leaving ceremony on Thursday, said Government recently made available in excess of (EC$100,000.00) one hundred thousand dollars to improve the school’s auditorium.
“Government spent in excess of (EC$100,000.00) one hundred thousand dollars to do repairs to the area where we stand now. The project involved window repairs, painting, plumbing and electrical, “she said.
Mrs. Charles disclosed that a fencing project also financed by Government, in excess of a further (EC$100,000.00) one hundred thousand dollars has made the school environment more secure.
“To ensure the security of your children, the teachers and all those who use the facility, Government also spent in excess of (EC$100,000.00) one hundred thousand dollars to fence the property and we must recognize that” she stated.
Meantime work on the school’s basketball hard-court was also made possible through funding and material provided by Government.
Mrs. Charles, who was instrumental in getting the funds and materials to execute the work on the school’s basketball hard-court, told the graduation ceremony that works on the basketball hard- court should be complete in time for the new school year.
“The school has been working on the completion of the basketball hard- court and I can tell you that the school Principal Mr. James has kept me busy” she noted.
“I can tell you that I kept, Mr. Charles, the accounts officer in the Ministry of Education very busy to ensure that we got the material and the money needed to meet the labor cost” she continued.
“We are at the stage now where we are closing up shop on the project. I hope that during the summer everything will be completed,” said MP Charles.
She said providing the physical infrastructure is not the only contribution coming from Government to the students of the Grandbay district.
The Parliamentary representative noted that significant sums have also been spent on meeting the transportation costs of students attending the Pierre Charles secondary school.
“I know for Grandbay, we do not get assistance in transportation, but I can tell you for example in Tete Morne and Dubique the students who come to Pierre Charles Secondary Government spend in excess of (E.C$4000.00) four thousand dollars on a monthly basis, to pay drivers to take children to school.
The parliamentary representative called on the community to act in a manner which will allow the most vulnerable to receive school assistance from Government.
She warned against being selfish as there are many individuals who genuinely need assistance.
“Government spends money in assisting the deprived and less fortunate among us with uniforms and school books. I say less fortunate because all of us cannot get. We must be cognizant of that “she cautioned.
She added ”Some of us can afford to buy books and pay the school fees, but there are some persons who are less fortunate and so we must be happy when Government leave you aside for now and assist those among you who cannot meet those expenses”.
Mrs. Charles concluded her remarks by saying that Government will continue to provide a school transfer grant to less fortunate parents to assist their children in accessing secondary school education.