Cotton Tree School Gets New Fence

A primary school in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo District, is a safer place tonight. The compound, which was previously exposed to criminal elements roaming the area, is now properly fenced providing safety to the students and teachers. Duane Moody was present for the inauguration of the perimeter fence this morning.

Duane Moody, Reporting

There are approximately four hundred and forty-two students enrolled at the Saint Joseph Roman Catholic School in Cotton Tree Village. But over the years, the students and the school have been vulnerable to break-ins and were in dire need of a perimeter fence for obvious security reasons.

Joycelyn Coleman

Joycelyn Coleman, Principal, St. Joseph RC School

“We’ve had numerous break-ins. The staff and I and the students, we felt very unsafe on campus because we had motorcyclists coming on campus riding through during normal school hours. We had mentally ill individuals coming on campus at any time and it was always touch and go because you never know what you are going to meet when you come to school in the morning.”

Monetary wise, the project is valued at approximately twenty thousand dollars for the seven hundred and fifty-foot long fence. It was undertaken by Cayo South Area Rep., Julius Espat.

Julius Espat

Julius Espat, Area Rep., Cayo South

“It took us about a month and a half; the difficult part after saying yes was how to get the money. I just utilized the structure that we used in our business which to be able to have clients believe in you, you have to give them a business plan. And so we took a couple pictures, we explained in a short paragraph what is needed and people came forward. That’s how we do it in Cayo South; we bring people together.”

According to Principal Joycelyn Coleman, the new fence opens the gate to many more opportunities.

Joycelyn Coleman

“There are many opportunities now because since the yard is fenced, now we don’t have to worry about leaving things outside and so on. Because we had garbage bins, but the owners came for them; we had picnic tables outside, but the owners came for them; we installed light fixtures actually on that very veranda that we used, and right now there is no sign of them. So everything that you put on campus has owners. So seriously I am really grateful for them because now, like I said before, I feel safe, my staff and I are safe, my students are safe and they are the number one resources here right now.”

Espat says that there are other schools in the Cayo South division that needs similar assistance.

Julius Espat

“Camalote needs the same thing. The school in Camalote has the same problem with the football filed beside it; on the highway, the vandalism. In fact, Camalote is a little bit more where the horses are right there where the children are. So yeah, Camalote will be the other one when it comes to schools. But we have done work in other schools…Saint Margaret is an awesome example of when people come together.”

Duane Moody for News Five.