Minister of Education Dr. Hon. Natalio Wheatley has announced that the government of the Virgin Islands through the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Lands will be conducting a land swap. This swap of land is between the Magistrate’s Court in John’s Hole and the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning center a local special needs school.
The minister said the decision to swap the lands followed a tour of a United Kingdom-based school in January this year. He said:
“I am excited about a land swap between the Magistrate’s Court and Eslyn Henley [Richiez Learning Centre’s] current location; facilitated by the Minister of Lands as well as Cabinet,”
This announcement came while speaking at the opening ceremony for Education Week on Sunday.
He added: “This swap will place Eslyn Henley closer to Althea Scatliffe and allow them to share resources, such as the school playground.”
Hon. Wheatley further stated that an architect is currently ‘re-designing’ the Learning Centre which just recently celebrated its 47th anniversary of existence.
The students at Eslyn Henley have been housed at the Althea Scatliffe Primary since hurricanes of 2017 ravaged the institution.
On the other hand, the Magistrate’s Court facility, which was also affected during the hurricanes, is now operating from a semi-permanent structure at its usual John’s Hole address.
Notably, the minister mentioned that among other things the students will have access the large playground shared by the Enid Scatliffe and Althea Scatliffe schools. And less noise from the nearby schools that has seemingly affected proceedings at the court.