And smack in the middle of all the garbage, and now a controversy, are the 512 students who attend Holy Cross Anglican Primary School. Government wants to relocate the school because of health concerns but Principal Grace Williams says that would do more harm than good.
Grace Williams, Principal
“The school is very important to all of them. Where would these children go? We don’t think they would relocate it. Where is big enough to relocate 512 students? And the RC School is already full, they can’t afford the other schools, they are too expensive, and we really don’t want children back on the streets.”
That is because most of these students are unprivileged. The education at Holy Cross is free and it includes breakfast and lunch for free for all 512 students, and yesterday – free dental services.
Grace Williams,
“There are a lot of people here who can’t afford schooling and out here it is very expensive. The private schools are very expensive and so what we offer here most of the people in this area need. It is very important to keep this school open. It is very important as an educational institution for these children, they really need the education.”
They need it - but after what we’ve seen - the question is if that education will be at the risk of their health. Reporting for 7NEWS from San Pedro, Keith Swift.
17 of the 22 students from Holy Cross who sat the Primary School Examination passed this year passed. That is why Minister of Education Patrick Faber says Holy Cross is one of the better schools in the country. He says there is a remote possibility it will be relocated but closing it down is completely of the question.
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“Well it’s certainly not going to close. That has been what is rumoured but I can tell you that as far as the Ministry of Education is concerned and as far as my conversations have gone with the Minister of Tourism who is also the Area Representative and also other Ministers in Cabinet, we certainly have no intention of closing down Holy Cross Anglican School.”
Keith Swift,
You said it won’t be closed down, what about the possibility of relocation?
Hon. Patrick Faber,
“Well I don’t that is a very strong possibility either. Any relocation will cost us some serious money. We have tried to explore avenues for relocation and what we’ve come up with are some very expensive options so because the Ministry of Education does not have that kind of money and the school certainly does not have that kind of money, what is to us now the better option is to try to make the developments to the school while the students are there which may mean we have to get a dredge to do the land filling that is necessary there but it has to go on while the students are in school.
I will tell you yes indeed I believe there are some other motives involved including the fact that the school is and has always been in the way, if you will, of developers who have been trying to develop condominiums in the area and that is a situation that is unfortunate but when it comes down to the question of a developer over our children or our educational system, you know where I will always stand, on the side of our children and on the side of providing a quality education for them.”
The school was started by two American missionaries. It opened in 2006 with only 60 students. Enrolment has soared to 511. Read More

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