Date: Nov. 19, 2009
Open letter to: All Alumni and friends
From : Riaz Bacchus, member of the NY Executive Committee
On behalf of the New York LCGSS Alumni Association, I am seeking your support and constant participation in assisting LCGSS. Therefore I thought it would be beneficial to share with you a brief summary of our activities so far and what we might do for our school in the future.
In 2006 we had a reunion out of which the LCGSS Alumni Association was born. We pledged to help the students of our alma mater. We were able to have a second reunion in 2007. From both reunions we were able to raise approximately $8,000. In 2008 we were unable to meet because of the economy. On August 1st 2009 we had a fund raiser dinner and dance and also a raffle in which we raised $7,400. Besides this there have been generous donations from other individuals who are recognized on our website. In addition on the site is an accounting of what has been done so far for the school.
In 2007, I volunteered to spend three months at LCGSS. I was happy to be utilized by the Headmaster as a motivational speaker and had at least one session with each class. My theme to the students was: Hard work, dedication, determination and a desire to be successful will indeed lead to eventual success. I also took with me $2,500 of earnings from the LCGSS Alumni Association with which I was able to have repaired the plumbing in the boys and girls toilets. Also during the rainy seasons two classrooms were flooding. I was able to arrange having poured 8 inches of concrete in both to remedy that problem. I was also able to get running water into the Home Economics Department installed.
LCGSS was built in the 1960s as a private school with a capacity of 200 students. It was taken over by the government in the 1970s. Two classrooms, a library and a science lab were added. When we were students total admission was about 350 students. Today the school has 560 students with only 2 new classrooms of space added, and as I have already noted, they would flood during the rainy seasons. Classrooms have been divided and further sub-divided to accommodate students. The noise level is very high. The size of the land that houses the school is just over 2 house lots measuring 90’ X 100’. When we were students there we would use the open areas as playground. Now these areas are all house lots. Here is an incredible fact: Agri-Science is mandated by the Ministry Of Education. It is referred to as a core subject within the curriculum, yet there is not an inch of land where the students can practice the theory they learn in class.
I was able to meet with the Minister of Education. I raised the issue of the poor conditions of the school, overcrowding, a lack of school supplies and a playground. The Minister replied that the Guyana government spends about 16% of its GNP on education and is doing all they can do, and that building another school is totally out of the question. I replied to the Minister that education spending should not be looked at as expenditures but rather as an investment for the future. He promised to look into the issue of school supplies. Implicit in the Minister’s conversation with me was: IF THE ALUMNI ARE SO INTERESTED IN THE SCHOOL THEN WHY DON’T YOU BUILD A NEW SCHOOL.
I came back to New York and met with the LCGSS-AA Executive Committee and informed them what I found at the school. In the meantime, we decided to fund a graduation ceremony for $600 (the school has not had one in 11 years ) which took place on the 20th of May, 2008. We will continue to fund the graduation ceremony for the next 4 years with the hope that the school will able be to handle the graduation ceremony on their own. We also purchased and delivered $2,000 worth of text books. We hope to raise more monies to purchase additional books.
It is very clear to all of us that what we are doing is very necessary but not enough. The physical condition of the school is not conducive to learning. What the students need is a bigger school with enough classrooms, school supplies, a plot of land for Agri-Science and a playground. We will see eventually if such a dream can be funded and if it is indeed the route to go but meantime there are also so many other critical needs of the school to be filled. I implore each of you to please be active in our organization and to contribute whatever you can.
Sincerely yours,
Riaz Bacchus