Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that the new Thibaud Primary School, now under construction, will bear the name of former educator, senator and former Vieille Case MP Vernice Bellony, recognizing her decades of service to Dominica and the northeast communities.
Speaking during Tuesday’s parliamentary debate on the $108.5 million supplementary estimates, the Prime Minister confirmed Cabinet’s support for the renaming and highlighted Bellony’s longstanding commitment to education, culture and public life.
“The Thibaud Primary School that I have taken a decision on, and with the support of Cabinet, that school will be named in honour of Vernice Bellony,” he stated. “In recognition of Mrs. Bellony’s contribution to the country and to the Vieille Case community.”
Bellony, who served as a teacher, cultural advocate and later as a parliamentarian, is widely regarded for her work in community development and her influence on generations of students. The Prime Minister described her as someone who “stayed in the country all her life and worked at the service of the people of Dominica,” adding that the nation must acknowledge that service in a meaningful way.
The school, a key project in the government’s ongoing education infrastructure programme, is expected to support improved learning environments for students from Thibaud and neighbouring rural communities. More details on the facility and the formal naming ceremony are expected in the coming months.
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