Hon Sharie B. De Castro (AL), Ministry for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports has called out Opposition Member Hon. Myron V. Walwyn (R6) for trying to mislead the House of Assembly (HoA) and the listening public with a question posed to her regarding reconstruction of the Belle Vue Gym. Photo: YouTube

The Belle Vue Gym was destroyed following the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Photo: VINO/File

Hon. Sharie B. De Castro (AL), Ministry for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports invited Opposition Member Hon. Myron V. Walwyn (R6) to join her in advocating for the reconstruction of the Belle Vue Gym on October 18, 2024, during a sitting of the House of Assembly. Photo: YouTube

During the Twentieth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Friday, October 18, 2024, Hon. Walwyn asked Hon De Castro whether funds will be made available for the reconstruction of the Belle Vue Gym from the 100 million dollars loan secured by the government.

The gym he said was a place for the entire District Six community to hold various functions.

“The Minister for Education who is an At Large Member is aware of this issue and was questioned on that matter where she indicated that her ministry had no plans to rebuild the gym,” he said as part of his question.

HoA records show no such statement made- De Castro

In response to Hon Walwyn, Hon De Castro informed him and the House that “the records of this Honourable House do not support the statement by the member for the Sixth District suggesting that I as minister indicated there were no plans to rebuild the Belle Vue Gym”.

Instead, she continued that she has consistently encouraged her HoA colleagues to advocate for funding in support of project and programs that affect their constituencies.

“I have repeatedly emphasised the importance of making representations to support the ministry’s efforts to secure the necessary funds whether through the annual budget process or through a schedule of additional provisions... in support of project and programs that affect their constituencies. I have repeatedly emphasised the importance of making representations to support the ministry’s efforts to secure the necessary funds whether through the annual budget process or through a schedule of additional provisions,” Hon De Castro added.

The Education Minister invited Hon Walwyn to join her in this fight, to be an active participant in advocating for the reconstruction of the Belle Vue Gym as it is through collaboration and joint efforts that the vision can be turned into a reality.