SHORT BOSS DELIVERS ON CHARITABLE PROMISE
The students and teachers of Reliance Basic School in Braeton, St Catherine, are now benefiting from a promise kept by 2017 Digicel Rising Star, Akeem ‘Short Boss’ Smith.
The basic school was chosen by Short Boss to benefit from a Digicel Founda, formed part of his overall grand prize for winning the talent show last year. Smith, whose daughter attended the school, used the funds to erect a perimeter fence around the entire property, among other improvements.
Although the school’s location provided convenience for its students from Braeton and other surrounding communities, the lack of a perimeter fence allowed persons to freely walk through the compound, posing a serious safety risk for students and teachers.
According to Smith, installing a perimeter fence was a top priority for him.
“Now that the fence is up, I feel a lot better knowing the children are safe. I was worried about the kids running out into the street or people just walking through the schoolyard. I don’t need to worry about that now,” Smith said.
Judith Royal Gardner, the school’s principal, said that the fence is providing a safer environment for students.
“We are overjoyed. This fence provides complete security for the staff and students. It also enhances our school and makes it more conducive to learning, so we are most grateful,” Gardner said. “We want to thank Short Boss and Digicel Foundation for thinking about Reliance Basic School.”
Short Boss added: “This school has been in the community for almost 30 years, so of course, the minute I was able to help I did. We have to look after the youth, and you can’t go wrong starting at the foundation level.”
The school has been serving the Portmore community since 1988 and currently has 48 pupils on roll.