Education Minister Plants Fruit Trees at Seaward Primary

Education Minister, Andrew Holness spearheaded the planting of several fruit trees at the Seaward Primary and Junior High School in West Central St. Andrew, as part of activities marking Labour Day, today (May 23).
The institution is one of several schools in the constituency where seedlings and vegetable seeds were planted, in keeping with the theme for Labour Day this year: ‘Eat what we grow. Grow what we eat.”
Some 10 projects were undertaken throughout the constituency, which is represented by Mr. Holness.
Alternating between using a fork and shovel, and at times his bare hands, Mr. Holness assisted in tilling the soil on sections of the school compound where four fruit trees were planted, and in the process, got good support from members of the school and wider community who turned up to participate in the activities. The trees planted were: sweet sop, pomegranate, otaheite apple, and ackee.
In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Holness pointed out that it was decided to plant fruit trees at the Seaward Primary and Junior High School to increase the number, which currently stands at one, adding that “all schools (in the constituency) will be planted with trees.”
Principal of the Seaward Primary and Junior High School, Vinnette Pryce, said the planting of the fruit trees was welcomed, pointing out that the institution would be creating a vegetable garden as well.
“We received some seeds from the Ministry of Education, and we have a little plot, where the children (and teachers) will prepare the earth. They are going to plant (the seeds) themselves, (and) they are going to watch it grow. It is part of their education, (as) they learn to care for the things that they also plant, and we are (also) going to teach them to appreciate the things,” Ms. Pryce said, pointing out that these include carrots, callaloo, and okra.
The Principal said this process has already begun, adding that “the response from the children has been very good.”
“Even (with) the little plot, the children will want time off from class to come to plant and to help prepare (it). The social studies club, which is responsible (for it), they look forward to doing these things. I think the children have caught on quite readily,” Ms. Pryce informed.
Another significant project which commenced on Labour Day was the preparation of a plot of land on the compound of the Olympic Gardens Civic Centre.
Mr. Holness said the plot was originally slated to be developed as a lawn, but said members of his constituency staff decided to convert it into a vegetable garden.
Caretaker of the centre, Lloyd Hewitt told JIS News that okra, lettuce, cucumbers, sweet peppers, pak choi and tomatoes would be cultivated on the plot.
“When everything comes to fruition, we are going to get some markets for them, and we are going to talk to the Member of Parliament about securing markets for the vegetables,” Mr. Hewitt said.
Other projects which Mr. Holness said were undertaken, included the building of a house for an indigent woman by members of the police force in the area.
Commenting on the input of the residents, Mr. Holness said that they have traditionally been actively involved in Labour Day activities, adding that “we have a history of doing that.”
“One of my most successful projects is the Chickens for Peace Project, where we built backyard chicken coops, and they have worked very well. Some of them are still continuing now, and so we say it’s almost a natural cultural thing here for us to plant and grow things,” he said.