The 16-member group has as its main sponsor the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) which contributed $50,000 towards the purchase of their return air fare.
Chief Secretary Orville London on Tuesday (15th October 2013) presented a cheque for the amount to the school’s Principal Marslyn Melville-Jack at the Administrative Complex, Calder Hall.
The presentation was one of six made to organisations to assist them in their activities. It also included a cheque for $150,000 to reimburse the organisers of the Chief Secretary’s Tobago Golf Classic for staging this year’s tournament. Other recipients were Serenity Vibes of Mt Marie for the purchase of musical equipment, GDIS Youths for football gear, Tobago Gospel Fest and Youths of Tobago. These organisations shared in over $210,000.
Principal of the Mason Hall Secondary School said her institution was twinned with Willingham four years ago and through assistance from the British Council was able to participate in the exchange programme of students and teachers but the council had withdrawn its support. In February a group of teachers and students from Cherry Willingham spent a week in Tobago engaging students in cricket and football and also visited historic sites. Last year teachers and administrators of Mason Secondary visited Cherry Willingham.
Chief Secretary London commended the recipients for assisting the Assembly in achieving one of its objectives of contributing to the holistic development of the people of Tobago. He added that each organisation in its own way has been doing that and he hoped that they would continue. He said it was in that context the Assembly has been providing the monetary assistance.
He said he expected this gesture would provide recipients with the resources and impetuous to carry on, especially those organisations that were voluntary and finding it a challenge to carry on. “I hope it would inspire you to carry on knowing that you have a partner in the Assembly,” he said.
London reminded them of the need for accountability and everyone who received public funds must recognise that they must account for the money utilised.