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Buff Bay High and Orange Bay Primary get new Classrooms

By: , June 17, 2016

The Key Point:

Four classrooms, valued at $23 million, have been built at Buff Bay High and Orange Bay Primary schools in Portland.
Buff Bay High and Orange Bay Primary get new Classrooms
Photo: Melroy Sterling
Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (2nd left); Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano (3rd left), and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz (3rd right), formally open two new classrooms at Orange Bay Primary School in Portland on Thursday, June 16. Assisting them are (from left) Principal, Gwendolyn Johnson; Board Chairperson, Dionne Hunter; and Portland’s Custos Rotulorum, Hon. Lincoln Thaxter. The school is located in West Portland where Mr. Vaz is the Member of Parliament.

The Facts

  • Both institutions also received furniture for the new classrooms, valued at over $1 million.
  • Several stakeholders at both schools, including Buff Bay High’s Principal, Sandra Buchanan, and her counterpart at Orange Bay Primary, Gwendolyn Johnson, also welcomed the upgrading works.

The Full Story

Four classrooms, valued at $23 million, have been built at Buff Bay High and Orange Bay Primary schools in Portland.

Each institution has been provided with two classrooms which were constructed at a cost of $11.5 million, with funding from the Government of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project.

The additions at Buff Bay High have increased the classroom complement to 21. A storeroom was also built at the institution. There are 789 students at the school.

The number of classrooms has increased to five at Orange Bay Primary, which has 145 students. A new perimeter fence was also erected at the school.

Both institutions also received furniture for the new classrooms, valued at over $1 million.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Member of Parliament for West Portland, where the institutions are located, Hon. Daryl Vaz, spearheaded both projects.

The classrooms were formally opened by Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid; Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano; and Mr. Vaz, during ceremonies on June 16.

Senator Reid, in welcoming the additions, noted that Jamaica continues to benefit from the generosity of the government and people of Japan.

Describing the partnership between both countries as “significant”, the Minister said “we are extremely grateful for their timely support, particularly for education”.

Mr. Vaz, in his remarks, highlighted the “long and fruitful relations” both countries share.

“I look forward to further strengthening of our strong bilateral relations and friendship, which I trust will continue to contribute to the Government’s growth agenda,” he added.

For his part, Ambassador Nakano said his country welcomed the opportunity to assist in undertaking rehabilitation and expansion at a number of schools under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project.

“We are happy to provide a comfortable learning and teaching environment for all the boys and girls as well as teachers. Education is one of the most important sectors the Official Development Assistance (Programme) of Japan highlights,” he said.

Ambassador Nakano also emphasised his commitment to working with local stakeholders to deepen cooperation in key areas.

Several stakeholders at both schools, including Buff Bay High’s Principal, Sandra Buchanan, and her counterpart at Orange Bay Primary, Gwendolyn Johnson, also welcomed the upgrading works.

Last Updated: June 21, 2016

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