Tweet

The call made by St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Candidate and Former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Earl Asim MARTIN to boycott the opening day of the new school year at the Basseterre High School was totally ignored as hundreds of students, staff and some parents turned out on Monday morning for the first day of the new school year 2015-2016

The Opening Assembly was held at the Zion Moravian Church and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education the Hon. Shawn K. Richards .

Several parents attended the assembly and along with the staff and teachers aided in escorting the  children to the makeshift classroom forms at the Warner Park, Methodist Church Hall (Old Boys School), Washington Archibald High School, AVEC, Premier Dental Center offices and Zion Church Hall.

In a “Back To School” Address to the Nation on Sunday the Deputy Prime Minister called on citizens to ignore the call made by the opposition to boycott the opening day of classes specifically at the Basseterre High School.

In the  speech, the minister noted that the parents and guardians of the Federation’s “most precious resource and greatest asset” are not only legally required to send their children to school, but are even more importantly morally bound to do so.

He added that there is nothing as useful and important as education to keep the nation moving upward and forward.

“There really is nothing useful to be gained by keeping your children, the nation’s children, at home,” he said. “They have been at home on vacation for the past eight weeks.  The time has come for them to return to school, to continue to learn, and to receive quality education.  I call on parents to be wise and to put the welfare of the children in front of and beyond all other considerations,” the Deputy Prime Minister declared.

The Opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party made the rounds on the local media encouraging Parents not to send their children to school . Party Chairperson Hon. Marcella Liburd along with failed Opposition Candidate Dr. Terrance Drew, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Earl Asim Martin, West Basseterre MP Konris Maynard and Senator Nigel Carty were all supportive of the idea of a boycott which was articulated by former Deputy Prime Minister Martin.

Reports indicate that the school had minimal absences . The majority of which were students who were still overseas on vacation I various parts of the world.