Naparima College Association of Past Students (NAPS) continues to make inroads in its bid to improve the lives of the school's students. On Saturday the organisation hosted its sod-turning ceremony for the Pavilion Project at the college's playground at Lewis Street in San Fernando. Among those present were past students, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Collin Partap, Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan, and Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard. The pavilion was commissioned in 1960 and is scheduled for an upgrade with an estimated cost of $1.8 million. The seven acre ground is scheduled for a refurbishment estimated at $11 million. The designs include the restructuring of the pavilion, fencing for the ground, a jogging track, a car-park, bleachers and courts for lawn tennis and volley ball. There are also plans for a conference room, two changing rooms, and two storage rooms.
NAPS president, Fareez Khan, admitted that the cost was exorbitant, but urged members of the association to contribute towards the cause. "We have to start to give more opportunities to our children. By building this facility and upgrading the grounds we will get more participation from students and parents. This project is about granting opportunities and, moulding our young people and giving them something that they can hold onto," he said. Minister Rambachan disclosed that he had contacted the Minister of Public Utilities, Emmanuel George, who announced that T&TEC would provide floodlights for the grounds. "There are so many things people can get from the government in terms of assistance. All they have to do is come forward and ask for it. You have friends in the government willing to work with you in order to achieve these things," he said.
San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray greeted the audience, and expressed her delight that the public would have access to the facilities. "We at the city corporation are much happier to hear that the organisation have partnered with us in providing facilities for the people of San Fernando," she said.
Partap pledged his support for the association, and said that the project would reap much benefits for the public. "It will help many to engage in spending quality time with each other...Positive attitude will assist in the holistic development for young people to succeed." DPP Gaspard lauded the efforts of NAPS, and he too pledged his support for the project. He urged others to make contributions, and reminded them that Naparima College had been making significant contribution to the community and the country by the type of people it produced.