Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine April 2016

Letter of
the Month
APRIL 2016 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 46
WE DIDN’T KNOW, BUT NOW YOU DO
Dear Compass Readers,
During Dominica’s Yachtie Appreciation Week [see story on page 11], my husband
and I had the opportunity to visit Roosevelt Douglas Primary School (RDPS), a local
elementary school on Sandwich Street in Portsmouth, with Magoe Johnson of the
community-development NGO Macario Advantage (www.macarioadvantage.org).
We discovered a school that has had funding cut to an extreme level because of
last summer’s Tropical Storm Erika. The island’s roads and other critical infrastructure
were severely damaged by flooding and landslides, and the government is currently
only able to fund a minimum of public services as it deals with the financial
aftermath of that natural disaster.
For a public school, these cutbacks
even come down to needing
toilet paper for the restrooms.
Fifteen classrooms have been made
out of the space for 12.
Administration areas have moved to
small storage areas to let children
have room for classes. The PTA
works to provide a type of lunch or
snack for the children, but there is
no cafeteria: children stand outdoors
to munch on packaged
snacks. The outside standing area
is open to the sun and rain; it’s not
paved, and can be either very dusty or very muddy.
Having said all that, the school is spotlessly clean; things that can be done by
parents and PTA volunteers are done. We found a devoted principal, Teddy Wallace,
and his staff, working to provide high-quality education while facing tremendous
logistical issues. Sometimes money for school supplies, food or clothes for a student,
if needed, is coming directly out of Mr. Wallace’s pocket. The school has dedicated
teachers and administrators who care desperately; every item is treasured in the
library with their carefully organized reading materials. The children are well dressed
in uniforms and smiling; they trust that the adults will correct the issues.
Top: The school’s outdoor ‘lunch room’
Above: Teddy Wallace, Magoe Johnson and Joan Conover (with the hat)
While I am sure these students will obtain an education, it would be so much better
if some of the financial pressures could be eased for students and administrators.
Unfortunately, those yachts coming to Dominica for Yachtie Appreciation Week did
not know beforehand of these needs; the boats that came south for the event could
have carried assistance in the way of supplies.
However, I’m glad to have the opportunity to now spread the word. If the immediate
shortages facing the school can be alleviated, it could prevent many future problems
for these children.
Boats could bring the following items as “gifts” (the Customs word) to help:
Dry erase markers for whiteboard (assorted colors)
Construction paper
Glue/glue sticks
Toilet paper
Thumbtacks
Paper clips (small and large)
World maps, Caribbean maps and globes
Heavy-duty staplers
Chalk (white and assorted colors)
Pencils, pens and crayons
Pencil sharpeners
Rulers
Correction tape/fluid
First-aid kits
Packages of white copy paper (for Xerox copier)
Yachts bound for Dominica can contact Mr. Wallace at rosezelle05@hotmail.com,
or Hubert Winston (SSCA Cruising Host) at info@dominicamarinecenter.com. If they
know a vessel is coming with school supplies, they can make arrangements for
Customs clearance and for pickup. Items can also be marked “for Roosevelt Douglas
Primary School” and left at the Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services (PAYS)
office in Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, Dominica.
This school needs help and if cruisers can bring items or funds, it will take one
more stress off the principal, who is doing everything he can to make ends meet.
Joan Conover
S/V Growltiger
Cruising Station Coordinator
Seven Seas Cruising Association