Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn has labelled it ‘an act of kindness that goes beyond business but rather speaks to humanity’ following the donation of a semi-permanent 4,000 square feet schooling facility on Virgin Gorda.

The facility will house the primary students at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre on the sister island.

The structure was purchased by MSC Cruises (USA) Inc. and handed over to the Government of the Virgin Islands in an official ceremony today on Virgin Gorda.

Honourable Walwyn thanked Chief Executive Officer and President of MSC Cruises (USA) Inc., Mr. Richard Sasso for the donation and said that it is an important reminder of how working together is necessary to the rebuilding of this Territory.

The Minister also thanked Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE and the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool as the Minister worked diligently with the Ministry of Education and Culture to ensure that the structure arrived to the Territory.

He said, “This Territory has to work together and fix the issues as they arise. A lot is going to be required of all of us and the worst thing we can do in the midst of adversity is turn against one another.”

He added, “This Territory cannot rebuild and will not be rebuilt if we cannot work together.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer and President of MSC Cruises (USA) Inc., Richard Sasso said that the donation is an emotionally satisfying gesture for the corporation.

Mr. Sasso said, “It’s not about what happened two months ago, it’s about how you’re going to move forward. We have now passed the adversity and it’s now time for us to look towards the bright future that we all have ahead of us.”

The structure has been placed in the vicinity of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre to house the primary school students. Meanwhile, the secondary students will be housed in the primary section. The students of the Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School will be housed at the Cornerstone School.

Following the first week of the new term, the Ministry of Education and Culture will focus its attention on the schools that have been deemed unusable with a view to getting them up and running as soon as possible.

The Ministry envisions this rebuilding programme to be one of public and private partnerships as they have already received significant promises from persons in the local and international business communities to assist in this regard.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to creating a “Culture of Excellence.”

Photos attached:

1. Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn handing over the keys to the schooling facility to Principal of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre- Primary Division, Ms. Kimberly George. (Photo credit: GIS/Bria Smith)
2. Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE; Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn; Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool and Chief Executive Officer and President of MSC Cruises (USA) Inc., Mr. Richard Sasso pictured with students and staff of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre. (Photo credit: GIS/Bria Smith)
3. Image of the donated semi-permanent 4,000 square feet schooling facility on Virgin Gorda. (Photo credit: GIS/Bria Smith)