Speaking at a ground breaking ceremony to symbolically start construction of the St. Pauls Day Care Center, Parliamentary Representative, Dr. Denzil Douglas said, those who will apply to, one day, work as caretakers at this center, “ I say: You will be entrusted with the care of our Federation’s most precious, yet the most vulnerable, possessions- our very young. When the day comes for you to be here with them, treat them with kindness when that day comes, treat them with love. When that day comes, treat them with patience. This is what we count on all persons, who work in all our day care centres, throughout the Federation, to do. We expect our day care workers to talk with these tiniest of children. We expect them to answer their questions – no matter how simple and seemingly unimportant.”
He told scores of residents and officials attending the ground breaking ceremony for the new facility that the little children must be encouraged to run and play.
“Let them feel free to roam the area that has been provided for them to roam and to play and to develop themselves. We must encourage them to be kind, gentle and good. They must be kind, good and gentle and we must also teach them to pray. Again, we must teach them to pray. For it is faith in God, the belief in God, and the love of God that uplift and strengthen an individual. And it is faith in God, the belief in God, and the love of God that uplift and strengthen our people, our nation,” said Dr. Douglas before he joined Minister of Education, Nigel Carty and Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Miguel Tsao in breaking ground for the start of construction.
Douglas added, “The Day Care Center that will one day stand here, and the adults who will one day make it work, will have a precious, important, and far-reaching opportunity to shape the hearts and minds of the young children who will be placed in their care. And we know that when they do step forward to assume their responsibilities, they will be ready for the task at hand. And for the good and important work that they will do, the children – and indeed, the nation – will thank you.”
Prime Minister Douglas, who accepted a US$500,000 cheque as the first instalment from Ambassador Tsao, handed it over to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ione Liburd-Willett.