Daisy Thompson Basic School Refurbished

MANDEVILLE — The Daisy Thompson Basic School, in Sangster's Heights, Clarendon, was refurbished on Labour Day (May 23), by many persons who turned out to participate in the parish project. Minister of Labour and Social Security, and Member of Parliament for North Central Clarendon, Hon. Pearnel Charles, told JIS News that he was satisfied with the effort at the school, adding that a project was also underway to upgrade all the roads in the area.

“It shows a certain amount of nationalism, with young people and the elderly coming together and making their contribution. We are also going to make a contribution to re-roof the basic school, which is named in honour of Daisy Thompson, a woman who has served the community for a long time. Sangster’s Heights is being uplifted, all the roads are being done, and we are going to rededicate the community to the former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament (Donald Sangster), and this school is part of the project,” he said.

Meanwhile, Principal of the school, Paulette Walter-Gibbons, explained that the Labour Day team, with inputs from the Social Development Commission (SDC), the Kiwanis Club of May Pen and the Jamaica Fire Brigade, patched the roof  to prevent leaks, painted and  dusted the building, cleaned the windows, and bushed the school yard.

“I am really grateful for all the help that has been extended to us by so many people,” Mrs. Walters-Gibbons told JIS News.

“The young people are recognising the value of service to the community, and to the school, so they have come out to assist. If the participation of the young people today is any indication, we have a positive future,” she said.

For his part, Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Milton Brown, told JIS News that all projects in the area were concentrated on early childhood education,  and this was a clear indication that the children would  benefit significantly from Labour Day 2011.

According to President of the Kiwanis Club of May Pen, Ida Ford, the members wanted to make a difference to the lives of the children. “It was a pleasure collaborating with the parish project, and one of our tenets is serving children of the world, so we helped in the refurbishing of the Daisy Thompson Basic School. Children are indeed our future, and it is good to work with them,” Miss Ford said.

By GARFIELD L. ANGUS, JIS Reporter