Prime Minister Holness Speaking at Jeffrey Town Primary School
Address
by
Dr the Honourable Andrew Holness ON, PC, MP
Prime Minister of Jamaica
At
Jeffrey Town Primary School
On
June 18, 2025
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Now, let me see by a show of hands who would like six new classrooms?
Who would like an office for their guidance counsellor?
And let me see who would want a staff room for the teachers?
And shouldn’t there be a little administrative block of offices?
And shouldn’t there be good sanitary facilities, bathrooms?
How about a multipurpose auditorium space?
And what about some space for storage?
And I know that all of you would want a computer room with labs. And of course, you all want your school to be properly fenced.
Well, all of these things are going to happen. In fact, last year we allocated resources to do what is called the planning for this. So, Madam Principal, they would’ve come to do what is called the geotechnical survey. They came and did their site visit to check the soil to make sure that the soil can carry the weight of the buildings. They have done all the plans. Yes, they have drawn the buildings already. They have gone to get the approval from the various planning entities that have to give the approval from the municipal authorities, and they are completing their engineering studies and plans, and so very soon they should be able to start construction of an entirely new school plan for Jeffrey Town Primary School.
Now, you have managed to survive for a long time since 1998 in a makeshift facility. It has held up fairly well, but it has reached its useful life. In other words, this building could not go much further, and the students who would’ve utilised the building, I’m sure they are grateful, but they would’ve wanted to have better facilities. Parents and teachers, and in particular, the teachers who have had to make do under the circumstances. Yes, we understand, and I want to thank you for your service and your commitment even under less than ideal circumstances, but it’s my great pleasure to give you this positive news that the funds have been allocated and it is in our capital budget to develop and build the new Jeffery Town Primary and Infant School.
What you should take note of is that I visited you some time ago, I saw the conditions, and as my colleague Bobby said, our promises are not empty. Our promises are based on realistic expectations. Our promises are based upon a word, which I want to know who inside here can tell me the meaning of that word. In fact, when we make our commitments is because we love the people, but we make our promises based upon wherewithal. Ever heard that word before, Madam Principal? Who is the English teacher? What does that word mean? I want you to tell your students. Those of you who would’ve just sat your PEP today.
Wherewithal, that is a powerful word, and I’m just going to give you a dictionary meaning, but it really means the ability, the capability, you have the capability to do things, and I’m sure that all of you here have the capability to do great things, the capability to achieve. And all of you here, I’m sure, are working very hard. How are your results on your grade four literacy?
When you have the new school, I’m expecting that your grade 4 literacy will go up. Well, you never really reach a hundred, but if you are at the 95% stage, that should do well, and there are actually schools in Jamaica that have that consistently high grade, and I’m sure your students have the wherewithal to be able to attain a very high level of literacy.
How are your teachers? How are they handling? Do you have any special programmes for literacy? Any special programmes you do? Do you have a pull-out programme? Do you have a special literacy programme? You have a literacy club, good. So all these children, I’m sure, will do well in better facilities in a new school, and I’m sure your teachers will be more motivated in new facilities, and the government is committed to providing you with the resources for your children to do well.
So, as my colleague, MP Montague, pointed out, which is the best school? And who is going to get a new school? And who is going to give me a 95% grade four literacy? Very good. Thank you.