Representatives of the Government of Dominica, the Government of Venezuela, Ministry of Education officials, students and staff of the new Salybia Primary School as well as villagers attended the colourful official opening ceremony on May 31st.
Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Reginald Austrie spoke about the fruits of the friendship between Dominica and Venezuela, a relationship which has blossomed under the leadership of Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit.
“We are here not by chance but through a deliberate policy of the Roosevelt Skerrit government in charting a new course with the relationship with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This relationship has blossomed over the years and we have now come to realise that we have true friends in President Hugo Chavez and the Government and people of Venezuela.”
Hon. Austrie underlined further the significance of this gift by Venezuela and what it has done for the relationship between the two countries.
“Today this building stands as a monument of our forward thinking, our sincerity, our honesty to the people of Venezuela and our friends within the diplomatic and foreign circles. Today this new school plant is in addition to the love and kindness of the people of Venezuela. And I want to ask you Charge d’ affaires, to convey our deepest and sincerest thanks to your government and people for their assistance in constructing this new brand new Salybia Primary School. Your sustained support will be immortalised in our minds and our hearts for generations. We wish to thank you very much.”
The Minister further outlined that over the years, the Government of Venezuela has delivered on promises made to the people of Dominica.
“ From ALBA to PetroCaribe, from annual scholarships to our children; for the support in housing, support in agriculture and culture – the Government of Venezuela has come through and delivered on every single promise that it has made to the people of Dominica. And as I speak to you, negotiations are under way for much more assistance from the people and Government or Venezuela…”
In his remarks at the ceremony acting Venezuelan Ambassador to Dominica, His Excellency, Francisco Anzola paid tribute to the people of Dominica for giving Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit and his party a renewed mandate at the last general elections.
“We must congratulate the Government of Dominica, led by Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit and the team work of his Cabinet Ministers, but the greater congratulations goes to the people of Dominica for having elected this great team which is now delivering…”
“ It is also important to mention that other projects are under way. Within ALBA we will see many projects come to light in areas such as education, culture, housing, food processing, marine defence, craftsmanship, among others ….” Mr. Anzola said.
Following the extensive damage to the old Salybia Primary School by the earthquake of November 2004, students and teachers were temporarily relocated to Bataca where core houses were constructed to accommodate them.
A decision was then taken at the level of Central Government to build a new school. However, in the throes of the severe fiscal and economic crisis at the time, the Government could not finance the project from local funds and contracting a loan at that time was outside the bounds of fiscal prudence.
The total cost of construction of the new Salybia Primary School was $3.8 million ECD. The Government of Venezuela contributed just over $3.28 million and the Government of Dominica contributed $474,884.
