Minister of Education Hon. Claris Charles and U.S. Charge dAffaires, Peter Secor, visited the Grande Anse Roman Catholic Primary School at 9 am on Friday, April 22, to view progress of school repairs. Minister Charles also took the opportunity to assist students with the planting of flowers in celebration of World Earth Day. As part of a $40 million (U.S.) Hurricane Reconstruction and Recovery program, the U.S. Government, has allocated $8.9 million to repair up to 17 primary schools in Grenada. Grande Anse Roman Catholic Primary School is the first school to be repaired under this program. Recovery activities funded by the U.S. Government focuses on four key needs in post-Ivan Grenada: housing, community revitalisation, economic revitalisation (including stimulating agro-business and fisheries), and school rehabilitation. Minister of Education Hon. Claris Charles took the opportunity to thank the U.S. Government for their continued support and assistance. The Minister also encouraged the students and teachers in attendance,to be mindful that the money spent to repair the school came from hard working American taxpayers. Grand Anse Roman Catholic Primary School is a CETT school (Center for Excellence in Teacher Training). There are 18 teachers and 375 students (200 boys and 175 girls). The cost of repairs is estimated at US $233,149. Construction started on February 28, 2005 and is expected to be completed on May 20th, 2005. Source: Ministry of Education