Published 03 September 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Back-to-School: PLP’s Byron-Nisbett partnering with parents in Constituency #Three
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 3, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — When the two primary schools and a number of pre-schools and day care centres in West Basseterre open their doors Monday September 3, first day of the 2018-19 academic year, some 340 children will have added value to their school life.
A partnership between Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Constituency Number Three Peoples Labour Party (PLP) Branch Executive Chairperson, and parents and guardians of the Dr William Connor and Bronte Welsh Primary Schools, pre-schools and day care centres in West Basseterre has seen pupils attending those institutions being properly equipped and geared up for the new school year.
“We just completed our first annual back-to-school event here in West Basseterre,” said the Hon Byron-Nisbett on Saturday September 1 at the William Connor Primary School, where the hundreds of children, accompanied by their parents, guardians and siblings had gathered for the event. She is also the Peoples Labour Party’s Deputy National Political Leader.
The party’s National Political Leader and Prime Minister, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, was among those who turned up at the event to cheer up the young citizens preparing for a new school year. Also present were the National Chairman Mr Warren Thompson, National Secretary Ms Myrtilla Williams, National Party Organiser Mr Alexis Nisbett, the two PLP’s National Youth Arm Representatives, Mr Damian Weekes and Mr Manasses Huggins, and PLP’s Constituency Number Four Branch Executive Chairperson Ms Petrona Thomas
Hon Byron-Nisbett observed that after parents would have spent on uniforms and textbooks in preparation for the new school year, she and the party thought it would be a good gesture to offset some of the cost associated with going back to school.
All the 340 children, including a few attending high schools, were provided with a backpack each. Inside of the backpacks were notebooks and pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, markers, glue-sticks, pencil cases – just everything that a child would need in order to be able to get started on the school year in terms of school supplies.
“We are extremely happy that so many of the young children turned out, and the parents had their children turn out,” noted the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett. “This signals to us that this is something that is important and something that we need to continue with and move forward with, and so we are going to have this done again on a regular basis.”
It was a fun-filled afternoon where children had a bouncing castle at their disposal, there was food and to cap it all, further assistance was accorded to the parents and guardians as there were five hair braiders and three barbers who saw to it that when the boys and girls return to school they would be at their best.
Hon Byron-Nisbett said that the PLP Branch was looking forward to whatever way they would be able to help the parents and guardians in future. Noting that community support was important, she noted that they are hoping that they would get back to where the community helped and assisted persons.
She hailed Ms Eusha Johnson, a young entrepreneur from the Village area who provided vouchers to be redeemed at her hair-braiding salon in the Claxton Arcade, Basseterre. Community aspect was further reinforced by the presence of the Senator’s parents, Mr and Mrs Terence and Althea Byron.
A Spelling Bee competition was held for age categories 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and the three winners were presented with a $200 gift voucher each, courtesy of Athlete’s Foot of Victoria Road in Basseterre.
“We were able to achieve what we set out to achieve and we are looking forward to being able to continue to provide the type of support,” said the Hon Byron-Nisbett. “We had with us the Prime Minister who is always supportive of anything that we do here in West Basseterre. He always tries to find out what it is he can do to assist and we are always thankful and grateful whenever he comes and shows his support to us here in West Basseterre.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett with some of the 340 children who received backpacks loaded with school stationery.
2: Prime Minister Dr the Hon Harris (2nd left) and Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett (right) with one of the boys receiving a much needed haircut for the new school year.
3: A young girl has her hair braided by one of the five hair braiders who were present at the Back-to-School event at the Dr William Connor Primary School.
4: Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett with some of the children who were being entertained at the bouncing castle.
5: Children take part in the Spelling Bee competition.
