New Preschool, Upgraded Primary School for Gales Point

Gales Point Village now boasts a new preschool and an upgraded primary school for its kids. This morning, the community celebrated with an opening ceremony. The project, funded by the Caribbean Development Bank at a cost of a little over one million dollars, was carried out by the Social Investment Fund. The preschool’s construction began just a year ago. News Five’s Marion Ali was there for the inauguration and filed this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

This morning’s ribbon-cutting in Gales Point Village symbolized a bright future for over seventy primary school kids and those who will join the new preschool. Principal Shermadine Samuels-Andrewin highlighted how crucial the school will be for the village’s children.

 

Shermadine Samuels-Andrewin, Principal, Gales Point Primary School

“This project is not just about the present; it is about the future. It is about the generations of students who will walk through these doors filled with hope and ambition. It’s about creating a legacy of learning that will continue to uplift our community for years to come. Let this be a call of action, a reminder that education is the foundation of growth and that when we build schools, we build futures.”

 

Area Representative for Belize Rural Central and Senior Minister of State, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, emphasized that her top priority is creating bright futures for the community.

 

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Senior Minister of State, Office of the P.M.

“We are moving in the right direction. Vamos bien. I want to repeat that especially for the children, it has been said that this is not just brick and mortar and building but a place where we can really, really improve the lives of our children and create a wonderful future for everyone.”

 

The new Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Ramon Cervantes, emphasized that education is a right, not a privilege.

 

Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State, Education

“Education is a fundamental right and the foundation of national development. Investing in our schools means investing in a brighter future in Belize for all Belizeans. This new school building represents progress and opportunity. It is fully equipped with modern classrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen and storage spaces to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment for our children.”

 

The project was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust program. Today Dr. Martin Baptiste, the bank’s Chief of the Social Sector Division, was present. The C.D.B. pays keen attention to providing the necessary funding for these kinds of projects.

 

Dr. Martin Baptiste, Chief, Social Sector Division, C.D.B.

“The completion of this new school and primary school block, in essence a campus, demonstrates our commitment to providing quality learning environments so that children in vulnerable communities in Belize are given equal opportunity to foster academic growth and personal development. Indeed the enhancement of these facilities reflects our broader dedication to expanding access to quality and inclusive education for every student.”

 

With a one-million-dollar investment, the Social Investment Fund brought the project to life. Narda Garcia, Chair of the Belize Social Investment Fund, shared that along with all the repairs, upgrades, and retrofitting of the primary school, the new preschool was built with modern amenities.

 

Narda Garcia, Chair, Belize Social Investment Fund

“This modern facility includes an open classroom space, a kitchenette and a storage room, restroom facilities for male and female students, teachers, and a separate shower facility and a covered veranda. Also, we have an access ramp for persons with physical disabilities. The students also get new tables, chairs, preschool toys and learning equipment, and for added security, a five feet high chain link fence encloses the preschool compound. The preschool was built in accordance with the International Building Code Standards and the Ministry of Education Science and Technologies regulations.”

 

Gales Point’s Chairman, Jason Altschaft, urged parents to raise their expectations, helping their children grow into future leaders.

 

Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee

“We parents  must raise our standards to meet the evolving needs of our genius kids that are graduating from here. Be ready, you know. Manatee is going to build the homes. Manatee Village is going to nurse the manatees to health. Manatee residents are going to be the business owners, sustaining the village when I’m a hundred, God willing. Manatee Village will be the teachers to our children. So while Class 2034 – I believe is correct – the future preschoolers, you’re going to be able to meet that challenge.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.