The NIA administration led by Premier Vance Amory has issued a statement giving its side of the decision to disallow the distribution of laptops to Nevis students at the Charlestown Secondary School and the Gingerland High School on Tuesday 25th November 2014.
Here is the text of that press release:
The Premier’s Ministry wishes to inform the people of Nevis that the issue of students at the Charlestown and Gingerland Secondary Schools not receiving laptops on Tuesday 25 November, 2014, is regrettable but was due to the lack of proper protocol by the officials from the Federal Government in St Kitts.
The Premier’s Ministry supports the programme to distribute laptops to the student in Nevis but insists that the proper procedures be followed to facilitate this process.
The Premier’s Ministry wishes to remind the people of Nevis and the people of the Federation, that a similar distribution of laptops was undertaken in 2013 after official communication had been sent to the Ministry of Education in Nevis by the relevant authorities at the Federal level, and wishes to remind all the people that the distribution to students at the Charlestown and Gingerland Secondary Schools proceeded in an atmosphere of cordiality to the satisfaction of the Principals, staff and the students of both schools.
The Premier’s Ministry wishes to reiterate that the initiative to distribute laptops to the students in Nevis by the Federal Government would be appreciated and supported by the Nevis Island Administration but insists that the proper protocols be observed.
On Wednesday Minister Phillip observed that the failure to distribute the laptops was a result of “miscommunication” between the NIA and the federal government.