Photo Caption - (L-R) Mr. Everton Powell of the Nevisian Association of Washington DC (NEV-DC) presents computers to Mrs. Jennifer Hodge, Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education in Nevis. see other photos)

The education system on Nevis received an added boost from Nevisians who live overseas on Friday December 08, 2006, when they donated nine computers to the Ministry and Department of Education, in the presence of top education officials on the island.

 The computers were presented to Mrs Jennifer Hodge, Chief Education Officer in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) by president of the Nevisian Association of Washington DC Mr. Everton “Swagga” Powell for four schools.

  The presentation was made at the Education Department at Marion Heights. Mr. Powell said he was hopeful that the computer would be “put to use for a worthy purpose to help the children and help the school in whatever way they can.”

 According to Mr. Powell, four schools had already been earmarked by his association for the computers, which had been purchased with over EC$20,000 from the proceeds of fund raising activities.

 He noted that the idea of a computer donation was conceived when the group received a request from the Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) but the Association decided to donate four computers each to CSS and the Gingerland Secondary School and one each to the Ivor Walters Primary and the St. John’s Primary Schools.

 Meantime, Mrs Hodge thanked the Association for their thoughtful gesture and wished them well in their future fund raising endeavours.

 “I accept these computers with grateful heart for all of the schools. We are always happy when our sons and daughters of the soil could remember their roots and give back to Nevis and the young people in Nevis some of their affluence once they go abroad.

 “Mr. Powell when you return to Washington DC, just express our deepest thanks to all of the members of the Association and tell them how receptive we [recipients] were in receiving these computers and that they must continue to work extremely hard and raise a lot of money,” she said.

 The Association’s President also took the opportunity to present a cash donation of US$500 to the Nevis Under 15 football team which is expected to travel to Florida shortly, to participate in a football contest. He said the gift was in response to an appeal for assistance from the team.

 Ms. Fayola Brown received the gift and with a grateful heart, conveyed sincere thanks to the Association on behalf of the team, their parents, coaches and managers. Mr. Alex Claxton the team’s coach was also on hand for the presentation.

The Nevis Association of Washington DC has a membership of 25 Nevisians who hail from various parts of Nevis. Mr. Powell said the group had come together with the sole purpose of assisting Nevis when and where possible, through their fund raising efforts.