Robinson O’Neal graduates gifted laptops

Fifteen graduating students from Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School (ROMPS) are stepping into a digitally empowered future, thanks to the generous donation of laptops by David and Pamela Johnson of Oil Nut Bay (ONB) through the North Sound Foundation (NSF).

Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Lorna Smith, presented the laptops to Principal Akima Powell.

The handover marks another chapter in ONB’s decade-long commitment to ROMPS. This relationship strengthened after Hurricane Irma devastated the school back in 2017. The rebuilt Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School, now a state-of-the-art facility, stands as a testament to the successful public-private partnerships that have flourished in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Since then, the North Sound Foundation has been instrumental in rebuilding and enhancing the school’s resources, ensuring a conducive learning environment for its students.

Powell expressed her gratitude for the donation and assured that the laptops would be formally presented to the graduating students at their upcoming Exit Dinner on July 4.

Smith emphasised the critical role of digital access in modern education. As the minister responsible for digital transformation, she reiterated the importance of ensuring that every household and child in the Virgin Islands can access computers and the internet.

Smith emphasised that such access is no longer a luxury but a fundamental requirement for effective learning and participation in a digitally connected world.

The donation comes as the government is actively working to bridge the digital divide in education. The laptops provided to the ROMPS graduates will support them in their high school studies and help them develop essential skills for the digital age.