PNP wants high school named after P.J. Patterson
Campbell calls for Gov’t to provide more educational facilities in Eastern Westmoreland
Published:Tuesday | January 16, 2024 | 12:08 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Dr Dayton Campbell, the People’s National Party (PNP) parliamentary aspirant for the Eastern Westmoreland constituency, is calling for the Government to provide more educational facilities in that constituency, including a high school to be named in honour of former Prime Minister Percival James Patterson.
Campbell, who is also the general secretary of the PNP, issued that call during a meeting held at The Manning’s School in Savanna-la-Mar on Sunday night to present the party’s candidates for both the general and local government elections.
“Time come now for another high school in the constituency of Eastern Westmoreland named after our illustrious son, P.J. Patterson,” Campbell said to thunderous applause from the packed auditorium of orange-clad PNP supporters.
Patterson served as the member of parliament (MP) for the constituency of Westmoreland South Eastern from 1970 to 1980 (when he lost to Euphemia Williams of the Jamaica Labour Party) and again from 1989 to 1993. Following a constituency reorganisation, he served as the MP for Westmoreland Eastern from 1993 to 2006.
There are eight high schools in Westmoreland, with two located in Eastern Westmoreland, namely Maud McLeod High School in Darliston and the Belmont Academy located between Savanna-la-Mar and Whitehouse.
According to Campbell, there is an urgent need to build out additional educational facilities in Westmoreland Eastern to ensure that children of all ages in the constituency can access quality education, especially at an early stage.
At present, more than 50 primary schools are spread across the three constituencies in the parish. But in Westmoreland Eastern, some of the prominent primary schools are Bethel Town, Darliston, Caledonia, Dundee All-Age, New Roads All-Age, Ashton All-Age, and Unity Primary.
“We want to see more early childhood facilities in Eastern Westmoreland, and we want to see more primary schools, and we will be doing extra classes, Primary Exit Profile (PEP) classes, so that the students can get the best schools to go to,” the PNP general secretary pleaded.
Providing he is victorious at the next general election, Campbell said that when the students from the constituency get to high school, he will provide the necessary support needed to help them complete that journey successfully.
The MP aspirant is also seeking to assure the youths in that space that their lives can be transformed under a second chance programme he plans to roll out.