A regular, potable water supply at Basic Schools across the island, could soon be the rule and not the exception. That though, depends on the US-based Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA), Inc., which will provide 75 water tanks to basic schools in Jamaica, starting this month.
Officials from the alumni umbrella group will launch its Basic School H2O Tank Project on Tuesday December 12, 2006 at a ceremony at Liberty Hall, the home of the Marcus Garvey Museum, at 76 Kings Street in Kingston, Jamaica. The ceremony will commence at 3:00 pm and will be hosted by Ambassador Derick Heaven who is credited with encouraging the formation of the umbrella group while serving as Consul General in New York.
UJAA Director, Irwine Clare told JIS News/NY that a total of 75 tanks will be purchased from Rototech International Company, manufacturers of the tanks in Jamaica, and that the tanks will be allocated to the schools on an as needed basis and as quickly as possible.
Declining to put a cap on the cost, Mr. Clare said that the project was a major undertaking by UJAA with the blessing of the Ministry of Education and Minister, Hon. Maxine Henry Wilson. Senator Delano Franklyn, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade and who has portfolio responsibility for Diaspora Matters will address the launch ceremony.
He said that it was the consensus of the UJAA membership that basic schools in Jamaica should not be forced to close its doors for lack of potable, running water.
UJAA officials this week expressed their pleasure at the launch of the project at the Marcus Garvey Museum, adding they will use the event to highlight its existence and importance to Jamaicans overseas and encourage them to visit with their family and friends especially during the upcoming Christmas holidays and the 2007 World Cup Cricket.
“It is indeed a place for our children to learn about the works of Marcus Garvey, our most popular national hero,” according to Irwine Clare, a UJAA Director.
A special presentation of computers and accessories donated by UJAA and Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) will also be made to the Museum. UJAA will be joined by its corporate partners in a live broadcast to be aired on ‘The Laing & Company Radio Show’ on radio station Power 106 FM. which is streamed live on the worldwide web from 2:30 – 5:00 pm. The Diaspora is urged to listen in and participate.
The Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA), Inc., was founded in 1990 as a not-for-profit, umbrella organization of alumni associations of Jamaican primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
Based in New York, it was created to assist in the unification of the activities of these associations, which are dedicated to the improvement of educational opportunities for students in Jamaica, and those who have immigrated to the United States of America. The member associations are comprised of Jamaican nationals who have benefited from an education received in Jamaica, and have availed themselves of the rewards of industry and citizenship in the United States of America.
Some 44 alumni associations are members of UJAA (USA), Inc.
