VOLUNTEERS HELP GIVE ESTRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL A MAKEOVER

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Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 13, 2016 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Education has expressed its profound gratitude to Lonza’s People Extending A Caring Hand (PEACH) Project for their volunteer work in giving the Estridge Primary School a complete makeover.

The volunteers put in a day’s work to paint classrooms, fix cupboards and set up a farm.  

Jerry Pierrotte, Safety and Health Manager for Lonza in the United States, said that each year the company takes a trip to different islands and brings along its customers to be entertained for a few days. He explained that in the process they spend a day at a local school to try to improve its quality. He said that Sunlink, the local destination management company, selected the primary school.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, William V.A Hodge, said that his ministry is very appreciative. He said that persons should take time out to volunteer in projects like these.

“I am the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, and for some persons giving up a day in your office to come out of the school to volunteer is not very important,” he said. “For me it is important. I don’t want to be there sitting and wondering what is happening in our schools. I decided to drop everything in my office and come out to give support to the head teacher Ms. Cannonier and her staff and of course the students.”

He also thanked Sunlink for selecting the school.

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Daryl Lloyd, said that the Ministry of Education, is delighted to have volunteers such as PEACH.

“The ministry is indeed happy that we have persons who have a vested interest in education and our children in particular and we are glad that the organizations have shown an interest to ensure that our school becomes a beautiful school,” he said.

He also urged the students to take care of the newly renovated school.

“It’s not very often we have persons with kind hearts like PEACH Programme and the Sunlink organization who would come onboard to do things like these and so all you are asked to do is to take very good care of your school,” said Mr. Lloyd.

He encouraged local organizations to come on board to beautify other schools.

Acting Principal, Suzette Cannonier, also extended her deepest gratitude on behalf of her staff and students to both Sunlink and the PEACH Project.

“I would like to extend profound gratitude to Sunlink St. Kitts who has selected our school for this renovation project,” said Ms. Cannonier. “I would like to express profound gratitude to Lonza’s PEACH Project for the renovation work that it has done here.”   

Lonza is one of the world’s leading and most-trusted suppliers to the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty ingredients markets. It harnesses science and technology to create products that support safer and healthier living and that enhance the overall quality of life.

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