St Kitts and Nevis: PM Harris assures students to rehabilitate Primary School

St Kitts and Nevis: PM Dr Timothy Harris visited the students and staff members of the Joshua Obadiah Primary School, which have been relocated at the Explorers Youth Club Headquarters in Phillips Village.

Following the visit, Prime Minister stated, “Good to see the young children bearing up and displaying great maturity when I visited the Joshua Obadiah Primary School, now relocated to the Explorers Youth Club Headquarters in Phillips Village.”

On March 22, 2022 (Tuesday), Prime Minister Harris surveyed the situation at the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School, where he met the teachers, students and support staff and assured that the school compound would be fully restored and rehabilitated. It has been given the highest priority of his Team Unity administration.

Prime Minister was quoted as, “All of us at the level of Cabinet was apprised yesterday (March 21) of the challenges and the opportunities. We want to ensure that the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School is restored to full use at the soonest possible opportunity. The Public Works (Department) has been engaged, the Ministry of Education has been engaged, and all agencies will treat this as an emergency situation worthy of the quickest response.”

PM Harris has further stated the student’s staff members of the damaged schools can totally count on him for the recovery of the school. Prime Minister outlined, “The students can count on my fullest support personally as a citizen of the country, secondly as the Parliamentary Representative, and thirdly as the Prime Minister. So, whatever I can do to be of assistance, to be of service, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Prime Minister ensured that school students that the situation is “temporary” and soon they will return to their original schooling place and will get a much-improved learning environment.

“I want you to know that we will do the best that we can to get you quickly back into your own school in a much-improved way. We’re sorry that you have lost your usual environment in which teaching and learning would have taken place. On the other hand, we are pleased that we have found a comfortable environment for you here at the Explorers Headquarters,” said Prime Minister Harris.

However, the school principal, Suzette Cannonier, expressed thanks to Prime Minister for his kind visit. She stated that his visit brought smiles to the faces of students, who were quite upset after the incident. The principal further lauded the government for its quick response to the tragedy.

On his visit, Prime Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Andrew Skerritt; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Osmond Petty; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Vincent Hodge, and Acting Chief Education Officer, Francil Morris.

Primary School was seen engulfed in fire on late March 18, 2022 (Friday), following which fire-fighters of St Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services were called to extinguish the fire. As per the officials, the fire caused damage to the ceiling, walls, partitions, furniture and books left in the classrooms in the main building that housed kindergarten and grades one to five.

Following the investigation, the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force has concluded that the fire was engulfed intentionally.