Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School
The newly-elected Anguilla United Front Government began a series of official familiarisation tours on Wednesday, May 6, with visits to four schools. First on the list was the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School at West End, followed by the Adrian T Hazel Primary School at South Hill; the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School at Island Harbour and the Morris Vanterpool School at East End.
The Ministers and their Assistants were accompanied by three top education officials: Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett; Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Rhonda Connor; and Education Officer, Pre/Primary Education, Mrs. Susan Smith. They were joined on the tours of the classrooms by the Principals, of the school.
Usually, only the elected representative would visit areas of his/her constituency, following an election but, according to the Hon. Evans McNiel Rogers, representative for Valley North, it has been decided that all members of the Government should be involved in the tours.
“This is a different approach. It is a new Government and we are all inclusive,” Mr. Rogers told The Anguillian. “The decisions that we will have to make, moving forward, will involve the entire Government and, as a result of that, rather than the Minister alone visiting the schools, I think it is important for all the members of Government, and the Chief Minister, in particular, who is Minister of Finance, to visit the schools so that we can see the conditions, and we can hear some of the issues and problems that are facing our education system.”
Chief Minister Banks commented: “Since education is so critical to the development of our young people – the most important persons in our community – because these are the ones we are actually working for – we think it is important that we, as a group, meet with them. They need to know who we are as their elected representatives; what we do; [and we need to] find out from them, on a first hand basis, what are some of the things they are looking for as young people. It is also for the Government to exchange ideas with them on a regular basis and we are hoping to keep that up.”
The Government Ministers appear to be somewhat taken aback by the fact the schoolchildren were able to greet them by name – no doubt due to their island-wide election campaign posters and billboards.
Meanwhile, as the official party toured the classrooms, of the Alwyn Allison Primary School, a group of appreciative parents waited for them in the dusty schoolyard. The concern they wanted to discuss was the awful amount of dust blown downwind from the expansive yard and affecting the comfort of their children and the school.
“It is a terrible situation with the prevailing dry weather, the wind, and the movement of vehicles, sending clouds of dust down to the school,” one parent said. “You wouldn’t want to see the children and their clothes. I wouldn’t mind being part of an effort to pave the schoolyard, and I am sure other persons would join in to help the Government as well. I know it will be costly, but if a number of people donate one truck of concrete, we can solve the problem.”
It is certainly a matter worth pursuing.
