By Sue-Ann Wayow
AN abandoned building at the Corner of Duncan Street and Independence Square that now houses street dwellers should be used to assist children with extra academic lessons.
Political Leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) Phillip Alexander made the suggestion via a video being shared on social media recently.
He made mention of a visit by Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain South Keith Scotland who distributed breakfast and lunch on Christmas Day to persons in and around the area.
Alexander said Scotland was accompanied by his son who attends Fatima College and daughter, a law student. He said that many of the students who attended Fatima College of other so-called prestige schools would have had to take extra lessons to attain their first choice at the Secondary Entrance Assessment Exam.
Alexander said Scotland should have given the socially displaced persons a “hand-up” instead of a handout.
He said Scotland should go to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley with the recommendation that the building be used “to create a free extra lessons building for all the children around Nelson and Duncan Streets here.”
Alexander told Scotland, “They don’t need your sandwiches. Keith Scotland. They need a chance at life.”
Pointing to the building, which once housed the Ministry of Health, he said, “This could be a homework supervision centre. This could be an extra lessons (centre). This could help these children get ahead in life so they would not need your free sandwich.”
Alexander also said that if the State was not willing to go in that direction, it could allow the PEP to fulfil that vision.
“If the PNM don’t want to do it, the Progressive Empowerment Party does. We are asking the State for this building for use of this building. You could keep ownership. Give us use of this building and we will raise the funds, to get the teachers, to get it organised so that the children could come and go to class,” he said.
Alexander added, “We are not asking the state for a dollar. We will raise that from our members and our followers.”
