Sailors, Marines and soldiers from high-speed vessel 'Swift' (HSV 2), Southern Partnership Station (SPS) and Beyond the Horizon 2009 clean and paint a schoolhouse during a community relations project at Drapers All-Age School in Portland last week. SPS is a military-to-military training mission to Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin. Beyond the Horizon is a humanitarian and civic assistance mission hosted by United States Southern Command. - Contributed
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
A group of United States (US) Navy officers and Marines are now carrying out beautification work on the Drapers All Age School in Portland.
The beautification work, which started on Thursday, includes repainting of the outside of the school building and 10 classrooms, landscaping, and rewiring of ceiling fans.
Commander of the US high-speed vessel (HSV) Swift 2, Christopher Barnes, says the group ensures it gets involved and gets involved and undertakes at least one community relations project per week at each port.
Treated as priority
"We treat these community-related projects as a priority," he said. "The guys are enthusiastic about these kinds of projects, as this is one way of not only getting them away from the ship, but it also allows them to interact with the local people. Port Antonio is beautiful, and we are enjoying the weather."
Approximately 28 US Navy officers, Marines, and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers are taking part in the beautification project at the school, ahead of today's reopening after the Easter holidays.
Principal at the school, Sandra Becker, said the beautification work would undoubtedly enhance the learning capability of students, who will now be able to function more effectively in a much cleaner environment.
"We were badly in need of a facelift, "she said. "The students will be returning to a grand surprise, and I say thank you to the US Embassy for its support towards this project, and also to Commander Barnes and his team, along with our own JDF team."
The work was made possible through the United States Embassy, which provide material for the work along with labour.
The school has a student population of 196 and operates on a single shift.