(From Left to Right) Principal of the Secondary Division of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Caryl O’Neal, second form student in the Remedial Programme Kyia Hodge, Co-Founder of DriftWood Resorts Trefor Grant, Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Co-Founder of DriftWood Resorts Douglas Riegels and second form remedial student Jamila Courtney pose with six newly donated Kindle Fires. (Photo Credit: GIS/Ms. Colene Penn)

A Kindle Fire is a touch screen, portable, seven inch tablet, which provides a rich catalogue of books, magazines and other technological features in full colour.

Principal of the Secondary Division at the Breagado Flax Educational Centre Caryl O’Neal was delighted and appreciative of the gift that will encourage reading in students.

In a handing-over ceremony, Principal O’Neal said, “The Kindle Fires have the potential to motivate and encourage reading in the students.”

The principal revealed that the acquisition of the Kindles was led by Vincent Wheatley, the Sister Islands Programme Coordinator in the Deputy Governor’s Office after she approached him with her desire to stimulate and encourage the love of reading in the students.

Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn in his remarks congratulated Driftwood Resorts for taking their corporate responsibility seriously and giving back to the community.

He said, “The presentation of the Kindle Fires is a way to make education fun as it marries technology with reading.”

Trefor Grant, co-founder of Driftwood Resorts was happy to support education in the Virgin Islands. He said, “After receiving the call from Mr. Wheatley, I was eager to assist the students in their educational pursuit and quickly facilitated the request.”

Douglas Riegels another co-founder of Driftwood Resorts in his remarks said, “It was truly gratifying to present the gift to the school and have an opportunity to give back to the community from which we operate. I wholeheartedly endorse this venture.”

Minister Walwyn then posed a challenge to Driftwood Resorts to join the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Adopt-A-School programme as their demonstration of this gift showed great potential as a future adoptive parent.

The remedial programme at the Breadgo Flax Educational Centre provides supplemental reading and mathematical remediation for students in forms one to three who require strengthening in those areas.

The Ministry of Education and Culture works hand-in hand with the business community to further the educational advancement of the Territory’s students.