THE Baramita Primary School in Region 1 will soon be equipped with a new kitchen, and its 187 students will benefit from hot meals.Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, handed over a $4 million cheque to Toshao Trevor Matheson for construction of this kitchen following a visit as head of a delegation

comprising Ministers Dawn Hastings-Williams and Simona Broomes, Regional Member of Parliament Richard Allen, members of the National Toshaos Council (NTC); and representatives of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), the Women Miners Organisation (WMO), and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

Students are distributed in the school as follows: 20 are in the nursery department, 34 in the secondary, and the remainder in the primary. All stand to benefit from provision of a hot meal once this kitchen is completed.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Fourth Vice President, Sydney Allicock; Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes; and Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams, handed over sports equipment to teachers of Baramita Primary School in Region 1.

This ministerial visit followed one that was done two months ago, when residents expressed concerns about children not attending school because of not having a meal and uniforms. This has contributed to the high drop-out rate in the community, they said.

The council had started the construction of a kitchen with funds that were donated by miners working in the community. However, materials that were accumulated for the building went missing, resulting in it being left undone for two years. The council said that the current structure will be condemned, and the $4M received will be used to construct a new concrete building.

In regard to the provision of uniforms, it was noted that the Ministry did distribute uniform materials to the community, but, Senior Headmistress Jennifer Williams explained, the cloth was not the correct colour, so it was not utilised. She also noted that there wasn’t anyone to sew the uniforms.

The toshao explained that there are persons who can sew, but there is need for sewing machines. Minister Allicock immediately instructed his staff to have the uniform materials exchanged, and asked the miners if they can assist the village in acquiring at least three sewing machines. The miners have committed to doing so.

Meanwhile, the school also received sporting equipment, including footballs and volleyballs, nets, tennis racquets and cricket bats. This is to ensure that the youths are fully involved in recreational activities.

The teachers also received school bags and other school supplies, to be distributed among the children; while the parents received food items.