By Hon. E.P. Chet Greene
As the long sunny days of summer gradually yield to the haunting reality of the hurricane season, a palpable sense of anticipation fills the air in the St. Paul’s constituency. It’s also back-to-school season; a time of fresh starts, sharpened pencils and renewed ambitions. This year the preparation feels a bit different; more unified, more supportive and deeply rooted in positive community spirit, thanks to the visionary initiatives, a supportive team and an appreciative community.
Recognizing the significant financial burden the new school year places on families, our carefully orchestrated groundbreaking ‘Back to School Fair which took place yesterday, Tuesday 26th August 2025, is designed to ensure every primary school student in our community steps into their classroom with confidence and the right tools. This event held at the Liberta Basketball Court, caters to each child from the Cobbs Cross, Liberta and New Bethel SDA Academy, who will receive a personalized package of essential school supplies.
But this is more than a simple handout; it is a gesture of profound pride and identity. Each package has been carefully curated and color-themed to reflect the unique spirit of the child’s school. Students from Cobbs Cross will find their supplies in vibrant green, Liberta’s children in their signature orange and New Bethel’s scholars in a dignified blue. This thoughtful detail ensures that from the very first day, students feel a reinforced sense of belonging and school pride.
Understanding that preparation is both academic and personal, this year’s initiative was beautifully expanded to include grooming. In a fantastic show of community support, four local barbershops came onboard to offer fresh haircuts for the boys, ensuring they look as sharp as their new pencils feel.
In a display of inclusivity that stretches beyond constituency lines, I have also extended this support to primary school students who participated in our highly successful ‘Youth Empowered to Succeed’ Summer Camp. This demonstrates a commitment to nurturing the nation’s youth wherever we can make a positive impact.
This vision extends far beyond a single day. Deeply concerned about academic performance, my team and I have created a robust plan to work directly with parents, teachers and the principals of our three primary schools to provide extra classes for all Grade 6 students. This critical intervention, wisely placed under the supervision of a triumvirate of principals, is a clear commitment to excellence through targeted investment in our children’s futures.
The investment in education is not limited to our youngest learners. For every member of the St. Paul’s community with ambitions for tertiary education, a world of opportunity awaits. From the UWI Global Campus and Lifelong Learning Unit to the merged programs at ABIIT, Antigua State College and ABHTI, the pathways to advancement are open through scholarships. To compliment the foregoing initiatives, on the horizon, our soon-to-be-completed Leroy ‘Billy Tonge’ Technical Center in Liberta stands as a testament to a promise kept for a first of its kind facility designed to provide specialized training and uplift our entire community.
There can be no doubt: my commitment to the educating of members of this our beloved St. Paul’s constituency is comprehensive, compassionate and concrete.
As we send our children back to the classroom, we do so knowing they are supported by a community that believes in them. Every success is wished to our students and every encouragement is extended to those continuing their own educational journey. Together, we are building a smarter, stronger and more successful St. Paul’s.
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