Handover Ceremony for Cedar Primary School & Victory Centre

Victory Centre and Cedar Grove Primary Schools Launch Hydroponics System and Nursery a few weeks ago. Yesterday, Tuesday 13th October, at the Victory Centre School on Nugent Avenue hosted a special handover ceremony to celebrate the installation of a new hydroponics system and nursery, a milestone project benefiting both Victory Centre and Cedar Grove Primary School.

The event brought together distinguished guests from both the public and private sector including Mrs. Natalya Lawrence from GEF SGP UNDP, Ms. Maudvere Bradford, Acting Director of Agriculture, Ms. Nicolette Francis, Education Officer for Agricultural Science, and Mr. Craig Thomas, IICA National Specialist for Antigua and Barbuda. Principals Ms. Jahmorla James-Francis (Victory Centre) and Ms. Anthea Anthony (Cedar Grove Primary) also joined the occasion.

The ceremony began with an opening prayer led by Cedar Grove Primary’s Agricultural Science teacher, followed by words of welcome.

In her brief remarks Mrs. Lawrence reflected the journey which began in 2024 and mentioned a few of the hurdles along the way. “The teachers and children remained excited, Mr. Thomas and his team remained alert, ready to spring into action at the appointed time, and on our side, two agencies came together and worked out a way to get the funds to the schools. By September, 2025, a planning meeting between key stakeholders to order out the project activities were to be done and here we are today: Two schools, two sets of children and teachers who have worked together, learnt together and created two beautiful gardens, grown with their hands”, she disclosed .

Guests then participated in a field tour, highlighted by the ribbon-cutting to officially open the new systems. Attendees explored the facilities, viewed the hydroponics setup, and captured the moment with photographs of the Handover Ceremony.