Education Minister hails reopening of special needs centre

Education Minister Sharie deCastro has praised the opening of the new Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, calling it a “rebirth” for special education in the Virgin Islands.

The modern facility, located in the Fifth District, officially opened on Monday, marking the end of years of displacement caused by the 2017 hurricanes.

“This is not just a school. This is a statement that here in the Virgin Islands, every child matters. Every mind belongs and every ability has value,” deCastro stated.

The minister said the reopening marks the first purpose-built special education facility of its kind in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). She described the project as a transformation “from rubble to rebirth”, symbolising resilience and renewal after devastation.

“Out of the chaos came clarity. Out of the ruin came resolve. And so today, out of that rubble rises this rebirth — the new Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre,” she explained.

The new 8,500-square-foot facility includes sensory and therapy rooms, a library, outdoor learning spaces, and accessibility features tailored to students with diverse abilities. It replaces the previous building destroyed by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

DeCastro commended the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Autland Construction, and local donors such as the Maples Group and Unite BVI for supporting the project. She said their contributions ensured that “architecture meets empathy,” creating a space “where learning and love coexist for years to come.”

The minister also recognised the teachers and staff who, she said, represent the “bedrock of this institution”. The centre’s team includes special and general education teachers, learning support assistants, and a school counsellor.

“For eight long years, you waited, you advocated, you pushed for progress,” deCastro told parents. “You did not only help to build this building; you helped to build a system — a system that listens, learns, and loves your children as deeply as you do,” she added.

The new Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre is named after the late Eslyn Henley Richiez, a pioneer in special education who opened the original school in 1972.