Hurricane Melissa a blessing in disguise

“I think am one of the happiest principals in Jamaica!”

Those were the words of Edwin Allen High School Principal Jermaine Harris as he marvelled at the work done to transform the institution after it was extensively damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Though the storm left widespread destruction in its wake, Harris considers the disaster a blessing in disguise — delivering the infrastructure upgrade the 62-year-old institution had sought from the Ministry of Education for years.

The Category 5 hurricane had destroyed the roofs of nine classrooms, many of which the principal said were deteriorating from a termite infestation. The school’s canteen, tuckshop, and a few administration offices were also impacted. Now, fresh paint and new roofs have revived the institution, a welcome move for the school’s principal.