29/08/2023
Choiseul primary school to receive new music facility
By Marvin St. Louis, Ministry of Equity
The Reunion Primary School in Choiseul will soon have a brand new music facility estimated at approximately EC $151, 000 funded through the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Saint Lucia. The project is being administered by the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) via the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was recently signed between the Reunion Primary School’s Music Committee and the SSDF to formalize funding for the music facility. It is the hope of the Ministry of Equity that this initiative will boost students’ capabilities and increase their interests in the subject area of music.
Former Social Transformation Officer and member of the School’s Music Committee, Mc Arthur Phillips, said the MOU will bring a number of initiatives to fruition.
“One of the things it will do is teach kids between the ages of 8-16 how to play an instrument of their choice. We are looking at guitars, drums, keyboards and also to do some vocal training. That represents the first part of the project. The second part is to go into music production, teaching young people, not only those attending our music program, but kids in Choiseul generally, to write and produce music.”
Quite passionate about the role music plays in empowering young people, Minister for Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, Hon. Joachim Henry spoke of the critical link between music and the development of young minds, in that it can inspire and enrich the talents and ignite the imaginations of students in the community.
“Music is an art that's so powerful, and I’d ask the children to try all of the instruments that they can, and advise them that they are never too old to learn.”
Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul/Saltibus, Hon. Bradley Felix, commended the efforts of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), which provides support to deprived communities via social interventions that improve health, education, economic access and the like.
"The Basic Needs Trust Fund, as the name says, is really a program that does not look at the politics of our country. It recognizes when a genuine request has been made and responds,” he said.
SSDF Deputy Project Manager, Brandon Antoine, also made mention of the team's efforts in getting the project to implementation mode.
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