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No official Principal; ESHS Students back in Old Clarence Thomas Building

-Assistant Principal Mrs Vanessa Garraway said to have received a phone call saying “You are in charge!”
Assistant Principal Mrs Vanessa Garraway was said to have received a phone call saying “You are in charge!” Photo: Facebook
Students at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) resumed the January 2019 school term back into the crammed and deplorable conditions at the Old Clarence Thomas Building in Pasea Estate. Photo: VINO/File
Students at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) resumed the January 2019 school term back into the crammed and deplorable conditions at the Old Clarence Thomas Building in Pasea Estate. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Students at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) resumed the January 2019 school term back into the crammed and deplorable conditions of the Old Clarence Thomas Building in Pasea Estate after many promises from the Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), that never came to past.

Students were promised to be moved back into the Elmore Stoutt High School compound in Road Town as early as fall 2018, however, that did not happen.  

Big bucks for old CTL building

Mr Walwyn revealed to the House of Assembly (HoA) last year this he is paying over $31,600 monthly to C. Michael Thomas, to house the children at the old Clarence Thomas Building. The money, according to him was for a Library which will go into the same building via a 10 year $3.8 M contract.

Despite the poor conditions, children were today, January 2, 2019 back on the compound. However, with the outgoing Principal Ms Sandy M. Underhill departing to run with Walwyn’s National Democratic Party (NDP), the school is now without an official principal.

Just in charge

Senior sources in the Ministry of Education and Culture speaking to our news desk on condition of anonymity alleged, “there was too much pressure against who the Minister really wanted”. 

A phone call was made to advise the Assistant Principal, Ms Vanessa Garraway that “she was in charge until, about February” or until further notice. 

No letter or official acting appointment notice was issued to Ms Garraway according to the same source.

Morals low under Walwyn

The source says that the Minister has continued to micromanage the Ministry of Education and appointments of an official Principal will not “move forward unless he gets who he wants”. 

Moral in the public schools and the Department of Education are “at an all-time low”, the same source claimed, as many are just waiting for the “outcome of the General Elections this year.”

Ms Garraway, a Virgin Islander, is qualified to hold the top spot at the Elmore Stoutt High School.

17 Responses to “No official Principal; ESHS Students back in Old Clarence Thomas Building ”

  • school children (02/01/2019, 17:17) Like (21) Dislike (14) Reply
    He wanted a St luncian
  • Xxx (02/01/2019, 18:53) Like (33) Dislike (6) Reply
    He holding the job for sandy for when she looses
  • Eshs Teacher (02/01/2019, 19:01) Like (63) Dislike (6) Reply
    Mrs Garraway has been the real muscle behind that school for years. Even with the presence of Mrs Underhill, it was she Mrs Garraway, who made sure things happened, who worked tirelessly and long hours to get and keep that school running. Mrs Underhill worked to push Tobin out of the top spot. Then when she got there she sat, made noise and spoke in front the camera. Everything for a show. Mrs Garraway deserves that job.
  • WOWW (02/01/2019, 20:14) Like (47) Dislike (10) Reply
    Sandy should of stayed right there and not follow Myron in election now poor lady going be a cashier at j&c when she loses..
  • The Watcher (02/01/2019, 22:49) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
    Leave funny man, every dog has his day!
  • onlooker (03/01/2019, 04:43) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply
    I’m sure the public isn’t happy about the amount being spent on renting a school compound and having the old one look like a dump site, while filling the pockets of the wealthy by signing million dollar leases on buildings which be renovated by the government and what will happen after the lease is up? What will happen if the government changes and have a different vision? Stop wasting the money
    • stfu (03/01/2019, 09:26) Like (5) Dislike (8) Reply
      Whether the government changes or not how long would it take to build a high school? What we need to do is stop tearing down but build up... the current location may not be the best kept but it's the most accomadating place there is for now so it's just in all fairness to try and make it as comfortable and presentable as possible for the children.. I think alot of us missed the message that hurricane Irma brought to the territory over a year ago.... We the people of the Bvi thought we was better than our Caribbean brothers and sisters and Irma came right along to show us that it's only a matter of time that we would be brought to the same level or even worst off as we can see many of whom have fled the territory to take up residence else where and others left to face the struggles and we seems to can't find a way back as a country.... take a drive around the entire Bvi after a year and months and you will realize so much still to be done with a plan as to how we going get it done... so bashing government or politicians won't help us for sure what we need to do is join forces as a people forget about which party who supports think about our future,our kids and do something positive... with so many kids at the school over the holidays how many parents thought it would have been wise to come together and go and give the building a good cleaning so we know our children who we so claim is the future is been place in a clean environment....
      • voter (04/01/2019, 11:37) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        The Multipurpose Sports Complex is available for temporary use! Stop spending all that money on rent.
  • vex (03/01/2019, 08:56) Like (8) Dislike (17) Reply
    You all going still vote Myron back so hush
    • Yep (03/01/2019, 16:08) Like (6) Dislike (19) Reply
      Yes we are. No one of the people out there running can match up to him locally or internationally. Imagine I don't like him but I need to look at the bigger picture. Stop dealing with your emotions and stop to think about the qualifications needed to lead. yes I will admit that he needs some work done on him in terms of his dealing with people strategy but that same strategy could get us out of this shit we in.
  • Hint: (03/01/2019, 09:37) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    you people need to learn to eat right!!
  • hello (03/01/2019, 16:17) Like (10) Dislike (19) Reply
    We will VOTE MYRON
  • @Yep (03/01/2019, 18:22) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    You are lost he is the one who help put us in this shit.
  • enough is enough (04/01/2019, 14:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I feel that Mrs Garraway is more than equip to do the Job of being the Principal of the Elmor Soutt High School
  • hello (07/01/2019, 06:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    But she’s been doing it for many years. Go Mrs G!! You deserve it. She treats people with respect ✊


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