PHILIPSBURG–Repairing public schools that were damaged and working with subsidised school boards to get schools such as Sundial School and Sister Marie Lawrence School rebuilt are amongst the areas that will have Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Wycliffe Smith’s “immediate attention” this year.
Smith outlined the areas that will have his urgent attention during the first Council of Ministers press briefing for the year on Wednesday.
His other plans include working with the board of Philipsburg Jubilee Library to ensure that a temporary space is found for the library until the old location is repaired or a new one is built. He also plans to secure funding for lights and repairs of the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex field so that this facility can also be used again at night.
Signing a contract with Johan Cruyff Foundation to secure the funding to repair the Johan Cruyff facility in Belvedere is also part of his plans.
“We have been having discussions with the foundation and the final version of the financial and operational agreement was submitted in early December and we are expecting to be able to sign this agreement shortly, having the Monument Council in place very shortly so that this Council can review the damaged monuments and give the necessary advice to [the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.] VROMI which has to issue the permits for the repairs and or reconstruction of these monuments,” Smith said.
Also on Smith’s agenda is the review of the current status of the teaching profession as it relates to teachers’ salaries and the “position” of the teaching profession in the community and in the labour market.
“I am expecting the Evaluation Committee of the teaching profession to present its report and together with the various stakeholders, including the Windward Islands Teachers Union, we can work on giving the teachers and the profession their status,” he said.
Smith wished everyone a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. He said 2018 had its challenges, especially in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane.
“It was hard for our people (and) for businesses. It was hard for our economic pillar – tourism, but we all rolled up our sleeves and worked together and we are building back – stronger and better,” he said. “I want to thank you, St. Maarten, for being resilient and not giving in or giving up. When I look around the island there is hope for 2019.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84160-rebuilding-repairing-schools-to-get-smith-s-immediate-attention-in-2019
View comments
Hide comments