Major Upgrading Of Primary Schools in Trelawny

KINGSTON — Major upgrading works will be carried out at the Sawyers Primary and Freemans Hall Primary and Infant Schools in Trelawny at a cost of  $20.2 million and $28.8 million, respectively.

Contracts for the two projects were  signed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the respective communities on November 30. The work is expected to be undertaken within the next three months. 

At the Sawyers Primary School, the work  to be done include: renovation of the existing school building; construction of a new sanitation block for girls and boys; installation of cupboards and shelves in the kitchen; installation of bookshelves in the existing storage area, which will be converted into a reading room;  construction of 129 metres of perimeter fencing; provision of two 1,000- gallon water tanks; and the provision of an electric water pump to lift harvested water to the tanks.

Work at Freemans Hall Primary and Infant  School will include: renovation of the existing school buildings, to include installation of classroom partitions; construction of a seven water closet  bathroom; construction of ramps to facilitate the physically challenged; repairs to kitchen cupboards; overhauling  the plumbing system; provision of kitchen equipment; construction of a 156-metre perimeter fence; provision of two 3640-litre water tanks and one electric water pump to lift harvested water to the tanks;  and the construction of a play area for the children.

Speaking at the signing ceremonies, JSIF Board member, Celia Champagne, explained that the projects serve to address the Caribbean Millennium Goal of achieving  Universal Primary Education. 

She said the projects will be funded under the government’s Community Investment Project (CIP), “run by JSIF and implemented through a US$12 million loan to the government, which focuses primarily on the provision of basic infrastructure in the health, education and transportation sectors in rural Jamaica."

Miss Champagnie pointed out that the loan has been provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

She argued that with the increasing financial investments now taking place in  Trelawny, the parish is being targeted by the government for infrastructural and social developments. 

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter