A new Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, a school that will serve the educational needs of differently-abled students in the British Virgin Islands, is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The government broke ground for the construction of the new facility on Monday, August 28.
The school’s previous site had to be abandoned because it was severely damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
The groundbreaking ceremony came after a contract-signing ceremony last Friday, August 25, where the government awarded the project to Autland Heavy Equipment Co. Ltd, a local company that specializes in civil engineering and construction.
The project, which is valued at $3.9 million, is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and implemented by the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), an independent statutory body that oversees the recovery and development of the BVI.
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who attended both ceremonies, said he was pleased with the progress of the project and expressed his hope for the new school to improve integration and interaction for its students.
He said the students, who have been temporarily accommodated at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School since the hurricanes, deserve a modern and comfortable learning environment that meets their special needs.
Education Minister Sharie de Castro, who also attended both ceremonies, said the project holds immense promise for the future of the BVI. She said the new school will provide an inclusive education, empowering and aligned with the territory’s mandate to educate all children.