Powell’s Plans For Education

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 17th, 2020 (ZIZ News) New Minister of Education, The Hon. Jonel Powell says he is fully prepared to accept the responsibilities that come along with his new position.

In an exclusive interview with ZIZ following the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday Minister Powell said while the Education Ministry is a hefty responsibility he has a plan and will be calling on expertise from the previous Education Minister, the Hon. Shawn Richards.

“It is a massive ministry, particularly, as you said, because of the Covid-19 situation, the additional responsibilities and scrutinies of that ministry so I will be leaning on the Deputy Prime Minister, Shawn Richards for some guidance in that respect. But just getting to meet everybody, it’s a very wide and expansive ministry, meeting with everyone, getting brought up to speed and then creating that vision that is required to take the Ministry of Education to the next level to ensure that at the end of the day it is serving the purpose that it is meant to serve,” he said.

He said one of the projects that will most definitely be pursued this term is the construction of the New Basseterre High School.

“We did not deliver it in the first term out of an abundance of caution, to ensure that everyone understood the implications of the school and what the thinking is behind the school. And I think that if there is a good reason, that is a good reason; to make sure that everybody is satisfied about the concerns that have been raised,” he said. “Having done that the new Basseterre High School will be built this term”

Aside from Education, Minister Powell’s new portfolio gives him responsibility for Youth, Sport, and Culture.