Louis Lynch alum urges ‘final goodbye’

A Louis Lynch Secondary School old scholar has made an emotional appeal for fellow former students to be allowed to visit the condemned Whitepark Road campus one last time before the building, which is being sold to neighbouring biscuit-maker WIBISCO, is demolished.

Julie Sealy, owner of Julie’s Party Rentals, made clear that she is not taking a jab at the Government for selling the abandoned property. She said she is appealing on behalf of other past students who may also want to say their last goodbye to their old school on an open day before it is destroyed.

Sealy, who told Barbados TODAY that she feels strongly about the school where she spent eight years of her young adult life, said the Louis Lynch school was responsible for moulding and shaping her into the person she is today.

She said: “The school holds lots of memories, good and bad. I was hoping that others would have come forward, but more than often when there are matters relating to the Government, some get cold feet or feel they might be victimized. We have a caring government that would understand the attachment to the school.

“Everyone has an attachment to their school no matter how old they are. This whole situation feels like your family is being buried without your presence or acknowledgement. Government or the new owners must know that we past students deserve an open day to be allowed to visit. We will never be able to show our grandchildren or great grands where we attended school.”

In July, Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dr William Duguid told Parliament that the dilapidated property would be sold to WIBISCO, based at Gills Road, Whitepark.

In 2006, the decision was made to permanently close the secondary school because of environmental issues, leading to the property eventually falling into a state of disrepair, and a home to vagrants.

Dr Duguid said the property which was assessed had been deemed safe to be sold. The minister further explained that WIBISCO intended to use the area to be able to develop its playing facilities.

Sealy said: “I would be willing to play a role in helping to organize the open day. The whole idea in me coming forward to speak out about past students being able to visit these premises one last time is because I am also willing to lead the effort.”

(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)