The Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre, which was destroyed by the hurricanes of 2017, will be rebuilt on land occupied by the Magistrate’s Court. Photo: VINO/File

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) giving his Education Week address at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay on Sunday March 8, 2020. Photo: VINO

According to Dr Wheatley, the Magistrate’s Court will be relocated to land occupied by the Centre.

Land swap

The Minister was at the time giving his Education Week address at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay on Sunday March 8, 2020.

“In January, I went on a tour of special needs schools in the United Kingdom, visiting a special needs primary school, a mainstream school with services for students with mild learning disabilities, and a massive special needs primary and high school, called Glenwood, for students with mild to severe learning disabilities.”

He continued “I was toured around the school by the principal and architect, who is the consultant hired by the architectural firm, redesigning Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Center [and] I should mention that I am excited about a land swap between the Magistrate’s Court and Eslyn Henley’s current location, facilitated by the Minister of Lands as well as Cabinet.”

Dr Wheatley said the impending swap “will place Eslyn Henley closer to Althea Scatliffe [school] and allow them to share resources, such as the school playground.”

Centre temporarily relocated

The Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre, which only recently celebrated its 47th anniversary, has been displaced since the 2017 hurricanes.

The students and teachers have since been housed at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School.

Formerly the Fort Charlotte Children’s Centre, the institution for the differently abled was established on October 12, 1972 by the BVI Red Cross under the leadership of the wife of then Governor, D. G. Cudmore.

In 1997, the centre relocated to John’s Hole in one of the government’s residential houses and on March 13, 1998, Fort Charlotte Children’s Centre was officially renamed Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre in honour of its first principal.