Roseau, Dominica – July 15, 2008……..In another demonstration of its commitment to the development of the Kalinago people of Dominica, the Government of Dominica held a ground -breaking ceremony in an area known as St. Cyr last week, signalling the official start of construction on the new Salybia Primary School.
The Government of Dominica turned its attention to the construction of the new school following damage caused to the old school in Salybia by the earthquake of November, 2004.
Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Minister for Education, Hon. Vince Henderson, Minister for Carib Affairs, Hon. Kelly Graneau, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Dominica, Her Excellency, Carmen Martinez de Grijalva, Carib Chief, Mr. Charles Williams and Mr. Anthony Burnette- Biscombe from La Robe Creole Professional Services were in attendance for the ground-breaking ceremony.
The School is being funded by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at a cost of $3.3 million. Work actually commenced on May 27th 2008 and will be completed in June, 2009.
Upon completion the new School will comprise: Seven(7) classrooms; Principal’s Office/Reception Area; Staff Room; Counsellor; Sick bay; Computer Lab and Library; Home Economics; Cafeteria and Auditorium; Storage Room and a Multipurpose Court.
In his address at the ceremony, Minister for Education, Hon. Vince Henderson dismissed negative statements made in the local media on the contractor chosen to execute the project. The Minister gave background information on the process and a detailed chronology of events which led to the award of the contract to Mr. Alixon Laronde of Atkinson.
The start of construction of the new Salybia Primary School is taking place at a time when there is a surge in economic activity now taking place in that part of the island. It is expected that close to fifty (50) persons will be employed on the project.
Work has started on the construction of forty-one (41) houses in the Carib Territory. According to the Minister for Carib Affairs, Hon. Kelly Graneau, close to 100 people have found employment on the housing project. The Carib Territory Water Supply project, funded by the European Union, is nearing completion.
The Capacity Building Project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Dominica is expected to have a significant impact on the social and economic life of the Carib people.
Over thirty (30) young people from the Carib Territory have been the recipients of scholarships from the Government of Venezuela.
And Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt has announced his Government’s intention to purchase a new bus to transport school children from the Carib Territory to the Castle Bruce Secondary School.
