Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer

"We have had many sessions here about the need of a building and one of the officers said he is sure we are going to get the school." - Winston Allen

Mandeville, Manchester

"Thanks but no thanks" was the word to officers of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) when they arrived withfanfare at the Trinity Basic School in Manchester last Wednesday.

The officers, who were donating a few items of furniture after a request for a new building was denied, failed to impress the school's board chairman.

The structure, at which the JSIF officers came to pose before their own flashing cameras, was the same rundown building situated in the lunchroom of the Trinity Christian Church of God. JSIF came to sign a contract for the donation of 27 chairs, one metal cabinet, one chalkboard and 14 desks, courtesy of a World Bank soft loan.

Winston Allen, chairman of the school board, did not mince words in his address.

"We have had many sessions here about the need of a building and one of the officers said he is sure we are going to get the school," Mr. Allen said. "After a time I got a call that we are not going to get the school because we do not have enough children."

Not enough children

He added: "JSIF promised items of furniture instead of the school and I did not respond until some time after. We were expecting a school from Government because we have the land and they claim that we do not have enough children, other places with less children get school. Anyway the Bible says in everything give thanks."

Mr. Allen, however, expressed appreciation to the Mack D's group of companies which he said had given the school a lovely building which is to be completed within a few weeks.

In her reply, JSIF's human resource manager, Graceann Miller, said: "I know that this is a tremendous occasion for Trinity Basic School, its students, parents and teachers and also the wider community. In fact I would dear say the entire Jamaica."

She admitted the ideal situation would have been the construction of a school but said that, due to the small school population, the JSIF board did not approve a new school.

That afternoon, the JSIF team ceremoniously unveiled its plaque which it had affixed to a door of the old school which badly needed a coat of paint while their cameras recorded the occasion.