Trevor Rhone’s dream for Bellas Gate takes flight

KINGSTON: May 6, 2009  

Four early childhood education institutions are set to get a new lease on life as the National Contracts Commission has given the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) its approval for their construction and rehabilitation.

The schools comprise the Bellas Gate Basic School in St. Catherine that will be constructed at a cost of $16, 213, 679.98 million and will be built of lands donated by established playwright Trevor Rhone.

Playright Trevor Rhone sharing a light moment with the children of the Bellas Gate Basic School in St. Catherine after officially donating family lands for the construction of a new, well needed Basic School for the community. 

The lands which were donated in an official ceremony held by the community saw Mr. Rhone expressing his desire to “give back to the community” which has enabled him to achieve so much. In fact, his larger vision for the socio-economic development of the community extends to the construction of a community/skills training centre and a visitor's lodge.

In addition to Bellas Gate Basic, the Burke Road Basic School in St. Andrew will be constructed and equipped at a cost of $15,419,041.42 and when completed, will serve 90 students along with their teachers/caregivers. Both schools will see the construction of a three (3) standard size classroom including bathroom facilities for teachers and students, kitchen with storage area, administrative area, drinking fountain, sick bay, play area, perimeter fencing, all necessary sewer & drainage system and water storage tank.

Located in St. Ann, the Gibralter Basic School is also slated for construction along with the provision of proper sanitation to the Gibralter All Age School at an overall cost of $18,170,032.80. The project is two pronged and will involve the relocation and construction of a fully equipped basic school with perimeter fencing on the compound of the Gibraltar All Age School. The Gibraltar All Age School will benefit from presence of basic school by way of the construction of a sanitation block for the All Age School. The works at the basic school will involve the construction of three (3) classrooms, kitchen and bathroom block.

All three projects were awarded to Ricam Construction Company Limited.

And finally, the Cacoon Basic School in Hanover will be rehabilitated to the tune of $10,975,394.60 by contractor, Melody Heavy Equipment and Construction. It is expected that upon completion, sixty one students and three teachers will benefit from the rehabilitation of an old structure which will be upgraded to three standard size classrooms, the construction of a new sanitation block, provision of adequate kitchen storage, repairs to existing roof, installation of new windows and erection of a perimeter fence.

All four schools will be provided with equipment and furniture which are compliant with the Ministry of Health and Fire Department standards.

Scarlette Gillings, JSIF’s Managing Director in reaffirming the Fund’s commitment to enhancing the social and physical infrastructure of Jamaica, but in particular the education system stated, "We believe investing in school construction and education is the best investment for future generations”. She added that, “The new construction and rehabilitation of early childhood institutions will help address the overcrowding that has resulted from the growing student population, while also minimally impacting the environment with sustainable design features.”

Nutshell Basic School in Manchester, before. 

Nutshell Basic School after JSIF’s intervention. 

The majority of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund’s capital intervention in social and infrastructure projects since its establishment has resided in the education sector. As a result, the construction, renovation, sanitation, equipping and fencing of school projects have seen an overall investment of J$1.25 billion that has been spent of the 258 projects with islandwide as at March 2009. To date the number of direct beneficiaries totals 38,467 children.