Sod turned for new primary school to cater to children of Huradiah, surrounding communities

Construction of a new primary school for the communities of Huradiah, Region One, will begin on October 10, following a sod-turning ceremony held on Monday, August 11.

Once completed, the school will provide much-needed access to primary education for students from Huradiah, Acquero, Ko-Ko, Cabrora, Sheba and nearby areas, easing overcrowding at the nearby Santa Rosa Primary School, and accommodating about 250 students who currently attend the latter institution.
“We just turned the sod for the Huradiah, Sheba, Cabrera, Ko-Ko, and Acquero Primary School. These communities will come together to decide the final name of the school, but these are the communities it will serve,” Education Minister Priya Manickchand said at the ceremony.
The new facility is one of six originally planned, which were to be funded by an International Financial Institution (IFI). However, delays in securing that funding led the Government to step in and use local funds to fast-track the project.
Minister Manickchand explained why the Government decided to move forward with construction, despite not having the IFI funding in place.
“This project was initially planned with the IDB [Inter-American Development Bank], but the processes with some IFIs take a very long time, and we couldn’t wait any longer. So, the Government is funding this project with local funds. This was necessary because Santa Rosa Primary School is overcrowded, and parents, students, and teachers have been asking for a new school.”
The land for the new school was donated by resident Camille Campbell, who offered a portion of her family’s property in Chiba to help address the overcrowding at Santa Rosa Primary.
Initially, no one else was willing to part with a plot of land, but after discussing the matter with her father, who also has ownership of the land, Campbell persuaded him by stressing the long-term benefits for future generations.
To this end, the education Minister lauded her efforts for contributing to the nation’s future. “We were very kindly gifted this land by Auntie Camille, who is here with us today. She has gifted not just these five communities but all of Guyana an invaluable gift,” the Minister said. “No one wants to give up land anywhere in the country – this is a worldwide phenomenon – but Camille gave up land for future generations of children who will grow up and contribute to this country in many ways. This is truly a patriotic gift.”
Camille Campbell shared how the decision to donate the land came about: “The Santa Rosa Primary School was overcrowded, and they were looking for a spot for a new school, but nobody seemed willing to give up land, so I went home and spoke to my father. I said, ‘Dad, we have a very big place at Sheba. Why don’t we give a part?’ He found it hard to decide at first, but I convinced him, explaining that it was for the benefit of future generations. We are all ageing, and eventually, the land will be left for the children.”
The ceremony also included remarks from Toshao Raul of Santa Rosa Village, who expressed excitement about the project’s start date and the positive impact it will have on the community.
“Today is very special – not just for me but for the whole community,” he said. “Many people have been asking for a long time when the school will start. I’m happy to share that construction will begin on October 10. This school will serve the communities we mentioned.
“Just yesterday, a teacher from Santa Rosa Primary said she would love to retire at this new school because it is in her area. There are many positive feelings around this project, and as leader of the village, I’m very privileged and proud to be part of this milestone. I know this is just the first of many good things to come, and I’m very grateful.”