The Tribune

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said it warmed his heart to be at the graduation ceremony for the 13 students of Every Child Counts, in Abaco yesterday.

As the father of a special needs child, Mr Christie said he knows that each and everyone of the children worked exceptionally hard to achieve their diplomas.

“I am also pleased to see that this graduation ceremony is a community affair. I know how important it is for these students to have strong family and community support. Many donors and volunteers are also present, showing that they truly value the difference that their gifts and time have made to the lives of these young people and their families.

“In particular I wish to acknowledge and thank Emerald Organics Ltd of Marsh Harbour for establishing a firm partnership with the school. You have made it a mission ‘to produce excellent locally grown food using sustainable organic techniques, whilst educating Bahamian youth’ and you have more than achieved this. I am told that students from this school also become student apprentices at your farm. The work you have done with this school is laudable and we thank you for it.”

Like every parent of exceptional children, Mr Christie said that he worries about the future of his son Adam. He said, as a parent there is always a major concern over the question of what will happen to his children if he is no longer there.

“It is because of my son that I have first-hand experience with the challenges and dedication required in educating children with exceptional needs. It is also because of him that I became more aware of the many families who struggle to educate and care for exceptional children. Over the years I have heard countless accounts of the way families with little or no help survive and I felt that it was my duty as a leader to find a way to better help them,” Mr Christie said.

Presently the Bahamas Government is working and consulting with Resources and Education for Autism and related Challenges (REACH), Bahamas Autism and the Bahamas Down Syndrome Association to establish a centre for exceptional children, who are primarily post-school age, so that they can be engaged in greater numbers in vocational programmes and other meaningful programmes.

“Like you, we will also have a farming programme as a significant part of the centre,” Mr Christie said.

“This centre in New Providence will be the first of its kind and we hope to establish or support other centres in the Family Islands, on smaller scales. It is important that as a country, we make it a national objective to provide greater support and more opportunities for families with exceptional children, because every child truly does count. This community and this school are a model for the kind of support that is necessary.

“It is my intention to ensure that we learn from your experience and go on to have the lessons reflected when we launch the New Providence Initiate later this year. Today while 13 of you graduate, the school is honouring seven of you as Founding Students. These seven will go on to become the Seven Founding Students of Starfish Haven. You seven have helped to make history in Marsh Harbour and are deserving of this special honour.

“You are all interesting, talented, gifted, humorous, creative and hard-working. Among you, I am sure there is a student who inspires others; a student who has the ability to make everyone smile; a student who loves to read; a student who is a future farmer. Whatever your gifts are, I encourage you to use them to enrich your lives and the lives of others,” he said.