AS A PARENT of three children attending Bayley’s Primary School in St Philip, I would like to commend principal Lorraine Burke and her staff for staging a well executed graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 22.
However, I crave your indulgence to record my concern at an apparent oversight by the principal during the presentation of her yearly report.
As an active parent on the school’s PTA, I am aware of the financial challenges the school experiences to execute projects; prepare students for Napsac; cricket and all the other sporting endeavours.
We live in a period of economic hardship when organisers of events find it a major challenge to identify willing sponsors in corporate Barbados.
Therefore any member of this sector who fully finances or shares in underwriting the cost of an event should be commended for his or her public spiritedness.
Therefore it must be seen as a glaring oversight on the part of the principal when she failed to recognise Indar Weir’s contribution to the school, while acknowledging that made by the MP for the area, Michael Lashley, in his absence.
I recall that Weir made a financial contribution in these trying economic times. I am sure that a sacrifice had to be made to offer any level of assistance.
In addition to his cash contribution to the NAPSAC team, Weir presented Jaria Hoyte, the school’s victrix ludorum with the Indar Weir Travel Achievement of Excellence Award and a monetary donation.
He also contributed to the graduation by providing an award for the student who displayed the most perseverance; one for the student who displayed the most determination; and another for the student who showed significant improvement in Language Arts.
It is also worthy of note that under acknowledgements for contributions made to Bayley’s Primary School during the 2009-2010 on the graduation programme that Indar Weir Travel Centre is noticeably left out.
Under these circumstances any failure to acknowledge the contribution made by a responsible member of corporate Barbados is inexcusable.
I therefore would like to use your medium to convey my commendation to Mr Weir for his sterling contribution to the development of this island’s youth and the enhancement of the quality of life in the community.
Let me also recommend to all school principals to be very careful never to leave anyone to link any political preferences, connections or commendation over private sector contributions to their annual reports.
HEATHER CARRINGTON
