Five Islands community touted to become A&B’s ‘educational hub’ following ground breaking for primary school

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Officials representing the Government, Opposition and the UWI Five Islands Campus along with the project manager, educators and students attended the Ground breaking Ceremony for the new Five Islands Primary School. (Photos by Robert A Emmanuel)
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By Robert Andre Emmanuel

[email protected]

In a unique display of unity, members of the opposition and government came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new educational institution, as both sides heralded the occasion as a step towards the constituency becoming the “education hub” of Antigua and Barbuda.

Minister of Education Daryll Matthew spoke of the project as more than just construction of a new school.

“Today we get to celebrate more than just the construction of a new school. We celebrate the manifestation of a vision that places education at the heart of Antigua and Barbuda’s national development,” the Minister said.

“This ground breaking ceremony for the new Five Islands Primary School marks the beginning of a journey not only for this community, but for all of our Antiguans,” he added. “This campus and surrounding institutions are central to a broader equipping of people, especially young people, with the tools and opportunities to aspire and to achieve greatness,” he added.

The EC$80 million project, being built on ten acres and financed by the Saudi Fund for Development, is located mere minutes away from the UWI Campus. The facility will include 19 classrooms and accommodate up to 600 students.

Project Manager Azalea Weston noted some of the details behind the construction which is expected to take between 12 and 14 months.

“This innovative project…will feature dedicated spaces for kindergarten and preschool, an emergency sick bay station, counseling facilities, a library, information technology laboratory, a contemporary catering kitchen, age-appropriate bathroom facilities, faculty lounges, and an expansive upper balcony among others,” Weston outlined.

St John’s Rural West MP and former educator Richard Lewis pledged his support for the development.

“We in the St John’s Rural West constituency, welcome the construction of a new primary school – the new Five Islands Primary School and necessary relocation to facilitate the expansion of the University of the West Indies Five Islands campus,” Lewis said.

He added that this is an opportunity for the community to advance through its support for the development of a “first class facility, a technological and socially advanced primary school”. He also called on other community residents to take advantage of the job opportunities available through the project development.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness, the Environment and Civil Service Affairs Michael Joseph said that the space made available will assist in establishing a basketball team as well as an agricultural programme.

“As a past student of Five Islands, I can personally attest to the foundational role this institution has played in shaping the lives of countless young minds. It is here that I, like many of my peers, learned not just basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills, but also values of hard work, perseverance, and community,” Joseph said.

Meanwhile, the Principal of UWI Five Islands Professor Justin Robinson spoke of strengthening ties between both institutions.

“We have a formal partnership with the Five Islands School where we have adopted the primary school and we have a very ambitious plan of a number of activities,” Robinson said.

“Start training, as March 31st will be one of our first big joint events where there will be a 5K run between the Five Islands Primary School and the Five Islands Campus and the funds generated from that run will go to fund projects at the primary school as well as scholarships for students wishing to attend the UWI Five Islands Campus,” he added.

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