By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner WriterBLACK RIVER:
A COMPUTER lab/library facility which was started some months ago at the Mountainside Primary School in St. Elizabeth has attracted both manual and financial contributions from a group of adult and teenage volunteers from Indiana in the United States of America.
The group, which consists of 36 members, is affiliated with the Methodist Church and has been visiting Jamaica for the past six years to assist with a number of church-related and other projects in various communities across the parish.
Leader of the team, Pastor Dewey Miller, told The Gleaner in a recent interview that when he was approached by the school to assist with the project, he went ahead and recruited some people to help with the manual work. He said that some of the members in the group were assisting with the laying of blocks among other things to erect the facility.
"Our initial contribution in cash is US$3,000 and we are pleased to be making this contribution, which will go a far way towards the completion of this project," said Pastor Miller.
MORE ASSISTANCE NEEDED
Chairman of the school board, Donovan Williamson, said upon completion, the computer lab/library will be available to the community and the residents. He said the project, which is estimated to cost $4.5 million, is still in need of a lot more assistance.
"We are not pleased with how the school has been treated by the Ministry of Education because so far we have got no assistance from them towards the project. Although we have requested their help, the Ministry is yet to respond to us," the chairman said.
Mr. Williams also explained that the construction of the facility is currently being spearheaded by the school development committee.
One of the members of the group Etty Oakes, 62, who was active with most of the manual work on the site, said she enjoyed working with the team on these projects.
