Consul-General calls on Jamaicans in Diaspora to Assist Education Sector

Jamaica’s Consul General to New York, Dr. Basil K. Bryan has called on Jamaicans in the Diaspora to help with the development of the education sector. According to the Consul General, education was essential for Jamaica to meet its 21st Century development goals.
“Let us not think that we have to do the big things. We can do the small things and do them collectively, in unity. Giving one dollar annually to help one child can make a big difference,” he said.
Dr. Bryan made the call during his keynote address at the first Buff Bay High Alumni Association awards dinner/dance in Poughkeepsie, New York, recently.
Outlining his support for computers in every school, Dr. Bryan said that given the extent of the recent agenda to overhaul and reform the education sector, the Diaspora would be called on to help in a big way. “We are going to be defined by how literate we are where computers are concerned,” he said.
He praised the group for making a bold first step and encouraged the members to continue to hold fast to the values that defined them as Jamaicans.
Former principal of the school, Godfrey R. Dennis, who is credited with transforming the school from relative obscurity into a known institution, and current principal, Nadine Molloy also called on the association to assist the school, which was established in 1969 as part of the Junior Secondary programme.
Miss Molloy outlined a number of improvements to the curricula and the physical plant, including zero tolerance on indiscipline, under a new five-year development plan.
Dr. Bryan headed a distinguished list of persons who were acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to the Buff Bay institution and the wider community. Those honoured included Dorothy Dennis, wife of the former principal (General Sciences); Linice Silvera (Art & Craft); Pauline Irving (Social Studies); Lorna Jamison (Spanish); Joyce Bennett (Drama) and Samuel Johnson (Industrial Arts).
Association President, Ewan Burke said that he was confident in meeting the challenges ahead and asked patrons for their support.
“Together as a community of past students and friends we can continue making progress. We have the opportunity to honour the past, to visibly impact the present and to give for the future,” he said.The event was chaired by Fernando Senior, the association’s Vice President.