BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:

Retired business couple Tony and Shelia Hart have made a contribution of $6 million towards the construction of a computer laboratory at the Black River Primary and Infant School in St Elizabeth at a groundbreaking ceremony last Friday.

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of the school board, Locksley White, said the facility would not be limited to the school alone. Instead, the entire community would have access to the facility, which is expected to be the largest of its kind at any primary school in the parish.

"I want to publicly congratulate our Member of Parliament, Dr Christopher Tufton, for following up on his promise because others had made a number of promises in the past and they didn't come through," said White.

$12 million cost

The construction of the computer lab will cost approximately $12 million and apart from the contribution from the Hart couple, the National Commercial Bank Foundation has also come on board and initially its contribution will be 10 new computers. A major contribution came from Jake's Construction Company, which will be undertaking the work.

Head of Jake's Construction Company, Jason Henzell, said the aim was to complete the work within eight weeks and within budget.

When completed, the laboratory will consist of 40 terminals that would be centrally controlled. A partnership will be facilitated with Heart Trust/NTA to provide computer-based training, bringing as many adults on the information technology superhighway as is possible.

Just before handing over an initial payment of $2 million, Hart said that after he had decided to retire from business activities, his passion was, and still is, to help in the area of education and over the years he has assisted many schools.

"It is never too late to assist any project and now it's Black River Primary's turn, and I am pleased to be helping with the construction of the computer centre," he said.

"I strongly believe that if we had everyone in Jamaica computer literate, everyone could be employed," declared Hart.

Saying thanks on behalf of the community was Kevin Clarke, who told the audience that the construction would bring hope for new opportunities for the students of the Black River Primary and Infant School and the residents of the community. He said that given the technology-driven society that exists today, it was imperative that citizens of such a society were computer literate.

- Rayon Dyer