Parents and students at the Bishop Charles Gachet Combined School had reason to celebrate earlier this week as Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, the Parliamentary Representative for Castries East, introduced a new after-school programme in the community. The ceremony took place at the Marchand Parish Center.
The project was conceptualized by teachers Joan Monrose and Louise Vita, who submitted a proposal to MP Pierre, the primary sponsor of the programme.
Chairperson Louise Vita stated, “We started in October with nine students, and we now cater to 39. We intend to extend the programme to the secondary school level.”
In his address to the gathering, MP Pierre expressed his support for the project, stating, “I will try to see if I can get the government of Saint Lucia to undertake this programme as part of their social activities.”
He added, “If I am not around today or tomorrow, the government will continue to fund it.”
The programme operates under the slogan “Embrace, Engage, Empower,” and is estimated to cost at least $6,000 a month to maintain, totaling approximately $60,000 per year for full operation.