IN PUNTA GORDA BEGINS

June 03, 2011


A ceremony to mark the beginning of a project to remove asbestos roof buildings at St. Peter Claver School was held this morning Opening prayer at the ceremony was said by the project advisor Fabian Cayetano and welcome address by Punta Gorda Mayor Floyd Lino. The keynote address was delivered by Human Development and Social Transformation Minister Peter Eden Martinez.

Minister Peter Eden Martinez
"We are here today to look at the fruits of our labour and the project has commenced and it is going to commence along with the management of the St. Peter Claver School. I know that we have been in discussion; they are looking at a vision of $5 million when the project would have been completed and the Government of Belize, myself, will be working closely to ensure that their dreams come true, that is our commitment and I continue to work with that. We will continue to work for the advancement of each and every boy and girl in this school and in this country."

Another main speaker was Social Investment Fund Executive Director Daniel Cano.

Daniel Cano - Executive Director, SIF
"The St. Peter Claver Primary School project aims to remove hazardous asbestos roofing from the school compound and rehabilitate three classrooms. This project will address concerns of parents, staff and government with respect to the unhealthy exposure of children on the school site to asbestos and provide an environment that is conducive to learning and in so doing it will enhance the tremendous work done by the teachers and this staff of this institution in the education of Belize’s children. The work of ensuring the highest quality of education for Belize’s children is the centrepiece in the government’s poverty reduction strategy. We launch the project today with great enthusiasm. The school and the community of Punta Gorda have demonstrated great commitment to this project which undoubtedly augers well for the working relationship going forward during the implementation of the project. I cannot end without recognizing the efforts of the Minister who has kept this project as a priority for funding and who has worked with SIF through the government in the identification of funds for these works and who has constantly advocated for the implementation of this particular project. In closing I look forward to working with the school and the community for the successful completion of this project.”

Other speakers included Toledo District Education Manager Oscar Reyes, Assistant Local Manager of Toledo Catholic Schools, Joseph Cayetano and St. Peter Claver School principal Marion Nolberto who gave the vote of thanks. The symbolic breaking of ground to mark the beginning of the project to remove asbestos roof buildings at St. Peter Claver was done jointly by Minister Peter Eden Martinez, Daniel Cano, Joseph Cayetano and Oscar Reyes.”

LOVEFM

If Minister Martinez loves his people and the children so much why has it taken all these years to get the asbestos off the roof of the school? This more hypocrisy, they are only doing it because it is election time. Hope the people of PG get him out and put in someone who actually cares for the people rather than the party.

Actually Mike, this is not the first school in PG to remove asbestos and I recall they worked on a few schools a while back, guess its about $ and they are doing it school by school as they are able to, rather than about politics. The last schools they repaired were not around election time and we are not around election time (2013) yet