Bridgetown, Barbados: Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley delivered an address at the awards ceremony of the Modern School Infrastructure Design Competition. The event was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday.
During the address PM Mottley highlighted the objectives that every school infrastructure should follow which include safety, comfort, and care of the children and that should be the primary goal of every educational infrastructure. Apart from that the infrastructure must be climate resilient as well.
Further sharing the vision for the school environment, she stated that schools should not be dreary, damp, or grey. For now, the aim is to move away from a “concrete jungle” approach. She added that if as now the fiscal circumstances allow, the government will make efforts to create comfortable environments for children, teachers, ancillary staff, and parents.
PM Mottley also highlighted the impact of Hurricane Beryl and the damage it has caused to the coastal infrastructure and coastal assets. Even after the damage caused the country is in a ‘new era’ in terms of construction and adaptation. She also advised that effort from every Barbadian is required for redirecting the focus towards climate resilience.
Sharing the timeframe, Prime Minister stated that the process of building climate-resilient infrastructure is expected to take five to seven years. Moreover, the infrastructure across the country that is not fit for purpose will be rebuilt within the next decade or two. This will be done either by choice or necessity, she added.
Prime Minister Motley advised that this collective responsibility, Climate resilience is a responsibility for every Barbadian, not just the government or schools. She further stated that every building in the country, including houses, must become climate resilient.
She further urged the public to proactively adapt their buildings to survive future climate challenges and avoid forced changes due to damage.
