TT and US soldiers renovate Blanchisseusse school

This is being made possible through a partnership between members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) and the Delaware National Guard (DNG), USA who set out to create a better learning environment for the 84 students.

The TTDF and the DNG have been partnering over the past 11 years for different projects that would improve the lives of students, in particular, and others who may need assistance.

United States Ambassador to Port of Spain, John Estrada, visited the rural school on Wednesday to inspect the work being done by about 30 soldiers and airmen who were busy tearing out tiles, repairing the ceiling and replacing water pipes.

This project is being funded by the United States Government to the tune of US$95,000, and is expected to be completed by tomorrow.

Estrada said there may be a spill over into Monday but the school would be ready well before the new term starts.

“The kids in this area could be forgotten,” Estrada told reporters.

“This is my first time in this part of the country and I have been here almost five months. The school was not in good shape.

This project has done a lot already to improve the water quality which would have the kids drinking good quality water again, help them with their concentration, helping them to study with better lighting in the school, just overall improvement.

The US Embassy and especially myself are very much into the youth, and this is a great investment for them and for your country.” Colonel Peter Sealy of the TTDF said the project allows the TTDF and the DNG to work together and learn from each other.

“We would be able to exchange best practices in how we do things and how we work to the mutual benefit of all. On this project, we have our engineers working with the Delaware engineers. Its an exchange of expertise and it goes beyond the engineering. We also have a combat life-saver medical training where we exchange ideas and training,” he said.

Estrada said he expected that the students are going to be excited when they return to school.

“They are going to see that their school has gotten a huge facelift,” he said.

He noted that the US Embassy has had partnerships with different countries around the world where in some cases they built homes or helped improved the water system, usually for farming.

It all depended on what the country’s pressing needs might be at the time.