TCI: Premier Attended Soft Opening of Iris Stubbs Primary School

South Caicos, December 10, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Premier, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson on Friday, 6 December 2019 attended the soft opening of the newly built Iris Stubbs Primary School in South Caicos. The school which was destroyed after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 led to the displacement of the students to a temporary location for more than a year.

Due to the damage sustained post hurricanes and the wear and tear over the years, the building had to be completely demolished and rebuilt. The new facility was constructed with resiliency in mind and once completed will be able to withstand hurricane-force winds and flooding and will serve as a hurricane shelter due to this Government’s open floor/collapsible walls policy.

The Premier and Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade, during remarks at the opening expressed that five (5) months after the Hurricanes, TCI Government directed funds to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Government Schools and critical Government offices. TCIG received further gift funding from the European Union and these monies were directed towards this Project.

Commenting on the rebuild the Premier Robinson stated; “I am elated that the Iris Stubbs Primary School now has a brand new and more resilient facility. These teachers and students have had to endure the traumatic experience of two major hurricanes then endured further disruption to normalcy when they were displaced from their classrooms. This new building signifies how much we have been able to achieve since 2017 and how fortunate we are that we were able to bring Turks and Caicos back from devastation without debt.

“These students deserve permanent housing for their education, one that is built to the best standards. Education is key to our country’s development and my Government will continue to invest in the best institutions, curricula and programmes for our children.”

Release: TCIG

Photo Caption:

Header: Pictured above (Row 1: left to right): Minister for Health, Agriculture, Sport and Human Services,  Hon. Edwin Astwood; Son and Daughter of the late Iris Stubbs: Annie Stubbs & (Former Chief Minister) Hon. Norman Saunders; Minister for Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation, Hon. Goldray Ewing; Minister for Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management, Hon. Ralph Higgs. (Row 2: left to right): The Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson; Minister for Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services; His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin; Former Principals of the Iris Stubbs Primary: Kathleen Durham & Bishop George Fulford.

Insert: Pictured above (left to right): Minister for Health, Agriculture, Sport and Human Services,  Hon. Edwin Astwood; Deputy Principal – Iris Stubbs Primary, Beverley Malcolm; Curriculum Development Officer, Rhonda Blackman-Smith; Principal, Iris Stubbs Primary School, Earlene Elliot; The Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson; Minister for Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management, Hon. Ralph Higgs; Minister for Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services; and Minister for Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation, Hon. Goldray Ewing.