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Hon. Penn - Francis Lettsome primary should be example for others

Hon. Pickering plans to make Francis Lettsome Primary best in the VI
The new wing at the Francis Lettsome Primary School.
Hon. Kedrick Pickering stated that it is his intentions to make the Francis Lettesome Primary School the best school in the Virgin Islands.
Hon. Kedrick Pickering stated that it is his intentions to make the Francis Lettesome Primary School the best school in the Virgin Islands.
Hon. Myron V. Walwyn stated that the new facilities are bound to have a positive impact on the learning achievement of the students attending the school
Hon. Myron V. Walwyn stated that the new facilities are bound to have a positive impact on the learning achievement of the students attending the school
Hon. Myron V. Walwyn stated that the new facilities are bound to have a positive impact on the learning achievement of the students attending the school
Hon. Myron V. Walwyn stated that the new facilities are bound to have a positive impact on the learning achievement of the students attending the school
EAST END, Tortola, VI - Ministers of Government and other Government Officials gathered today, May 11, 2012, for the Dedication and Hand-Over Ceremony of the new wing at the Francis Lettsome Primary School.

In attendance were, Acting Chief Education Officer Ms. Beverlie Brathwaite; Liaison Officer of the Francis Lettsome Primary School Mrs. Ruth Frazer; Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Mr. Neil Smith; 8th District Representative Hon. Marlon Penn, Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn; Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith; Deputy Premier Hon. Kedrick Pickering along with the Principal, Staff, students and parents of the school.

District Eight Representative, Hon. Marlon A. Penn stated that the new structure is an example of how educational facilities should be built in the Virgin Islands (VI).

He reminded the attendees that the school falls under his District and he is immensely proud. “I am proud of the academic accomplishments made by the faculty and students made at this institution over the years.” He added that they deserve the new facilities.

He stated that the, “Francis Lettsome School have been amongst the top primary schools in the territory and having the top five primary students in the VI last year, this new facility comes as an award.”

Deputy Premier Hon. Kedrick Pickering in addressing the attendees, stated that it is his intentions to make the Francis Lettesome Primary School the best school in the Virgin Islands.

Hon. Pickering explained that the original design for the school was not fully implemented, but the school is still the best none the less.

“This school was supposed to be the first school in the VI to have an official lunch room because we saw the future, that whatever Government, the Government of the day would begin providing meals for the children.”

He claimed that other than academics, the school is still the best. “There is no other school in the BVI that has the infrastructure this school has.” He told the students to always dream and dream big, because dreams do come true.

In his remarks, Education Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn stated that the new facilities are bound to have a positive impact on the learning achievement of the students attending the school.

He added that the schools of the VI must be a place of interest to the students, for them to be successful at everything they attempt.

“When we allow them to learn in buildings with leaky roofs, hot class rooms, we are conveying the wrong message to our students. We are conveying a message that I believe does not speak to our desire to have our students become global competitors.

He stated that the Ministry will continue their assessment of all public schools and create a strategy to see how best all schools on all islands have facilities such as the Francis Lettsome Primary School.

Principal Ms. Elena Fahie said this has been long awaited and she is grateful to finally enjoy the new facilities by referring to it as “Paradise”.

The school is now equipped with additional classrooms, bathrooms, kitchenette, storage areas, administration and staff rooms and a library and resource centre.

24 Responses to “Hon. Penn - Francis Lettsome primary should be example for others”

  • bb (11/05/2012, 19:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another vip project
  • ja (11/05/2012, 19:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good to go
  • ooooo (11/05/2012, 21:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    myron aint had the decency to invite the former minister sallah...well my god!!! and marlon had the heart to say that the woman didn't do nothing
  • ann (11/05/2012, 23:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    happy the school is finally done...
  • hope hill (12/05/2012, 00:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hope the students are the ones who get the credit and not johnny come lately with long speeches
  • Wellsa (12/05/2012, 01:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope all the children from the east will be registering there now. Them all want to come to the big school in town but aint got a soul looking out for the big school, not minister, not ps, not ceo not district rep. You would think this would be the model school since all the districts come there. The minister always talking about what he met there but he need to talk bout this. There should be many reports on the leaking roof at ASPS but not a man studying that but as he got in office he could tell ya how much reports he has bout the mighty scatliffe sign. Pack a bull. I guess he aint see nor hear bout that. Up till now not a visit but he talking pi$$. The largest primary school in the territory and the only people studying it is the principals, teachers and parents. We happy for the guys in the east but I thought the government is for all. So how them going to make FLPS the best school. Shouldn't they all be given equal attention... I could tell ya
    • DarkVader (12/05/2012, 11:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Please give me a break Ms. Principal..That school had leaks for years now and NO one from te previous government fixed the leaks. You think tis now ASPS have leaks. The minister will get the leaks fixed in ASPS and every school. Not because ASPS is the largest means all the attention has to go there. For your info and I know you know this, there are children from every districts attending schools that are not in their districts for whatever reason. We need to stop this petty childish talk man.
    • The Watcher (12/05/2012, 13:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Not only the leaks need fixing, the stench from the bathrooms is enough to make a grown person vomit. What are the janitors doing? If the school has full time janitors they should be monitoring those bathroom especially around peak usage time.
    • hmm (12/05/2012, 17:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      so da minister got to come to da school for a leaking roof wat happen to da damm maintenance crew
    • talk (12/05/2012, 18:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      equal attention my a.. wen all da schools has place to have P E and da children in east got to run on da road is dat equal attention
    • kiss and tell (13/05/2012, 16:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      heard dat minsiter dem tryin to get all kind of island children in we public schools...
  • Well Sah! (12/05/2012, 09:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pickering had to find something negative to say! Gosh man election done.....but it soon come again. I don't care which political party yuh with, once yuh not behaving in the best interest of the people (in all aspects not just your political role) we voting all yuh out.
  • ooooo (12/05/2012, 10:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    where was the other frenchie? how come them aint put he on the mic too? he was the builder
  • inspector (12/05/2012, 10:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now they can no longer say Dancia aint do nothing as this is another of her projects…BAM hit the right spot.
  • question (12/05/2012, 10:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why the ndp got to mek everything political?
  • Francis Lettsome Forever! (14/05/2012, 09:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Francis Lettsome has been among the top schools for DECADES. They were neglected for a LONG time. Teachers there (like in other schools) struggled and spent their time, effort and money, but no one knew, and they STILL produce GREAT STUDENTS. I continue to recognize and congratulate the teachers and the students. Nevertheless, it is good to see these works completed. We (parents of the 7th and 8th) work mostly in Town, and cannot pick them up or have them looked after until we can collect them. Perhaps a bus can collect children and take them to a designated area in Town, or an After-Care Programme like the one at St Georges that charges $60 per month can be put in place, so we can pick them up by 5:30pm. That way, we can allow our children to attend Francis Lettsome as well. Francis Lettsome Forever!!!
  • I wonder (14/05/2012, 15:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would love to say job well done on the Francis Lettsome School, but for the kind of money they had, $2 million, if my memory serves me correct and I think it does, the schoold should have had three more levels and a cafeteria. No NDP didn't do the renovations, they would not have spent that kind of money. Lots of money spent up in the East but we can't see where it was spent, like the Greenland field had almost a million dollars spent there as well. So you see stop calling down the new Government and recognize that you guys had nothing to say when the old Governmetn was bleeding us dry with little or no results. Most of the schools could have had a little bit of work done on them for that $2 million. Instead some one of their cronies is spending it as we speak. You guys just making a lot of noise now but we know what it is. You can add up every contract you see from now on from the NDP, but it is not possible for them to catch that last group we just voted out. $2 million spent on that school if not more. How many brand new schools could that build? Oh, sorry, you big spenders, VIP, would probably say one.


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