Port of Spain, Trinidad. November 5, 2020: Over the past couple of months, students in Trinidad and Tobago have had to adapt to a new way of learning which has been through online classes, due to COVID-19.
This new teaching method has placed many students at a disadvantage who do not have access to devices to connect to their teachers and classmates. The Board of Directors and Executives of Angostura® decided that the Company should step in to assist students in need during this critical time.
Angostura® donated 55 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim laptops to 18 Secondary schools across the country. The schools distributed the laptops to students in Forms 4 and 5 who do not have access to a device needed for remote learning while schools remain closed due to the pandemic.
The schools included:
| ASJA Boys’ College, San Fernando | Barataria North Secondary |
| Barataria South Secondary | Bishop Anstey High School, POS |
| Blanchisseusse Secondary | Chaguanas South Secondary |
| Gasparillo Secondary | La Romaine Secondary |
| Malick Secondary | Morvant/Laventille Secondary |
| North Eastern College | Palo Seco Secondary |
| San Juan South Secondary | South East POS Secondary |
| St. Joseph’s Convent, POS | Success Laventille Secondary |
| SWAHA Hindu College | Vessigny Secondary |
The Honourable Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education, said, “I want to thank Angostura because this is not your first venture in helping the schools. I want to recognize your significant donation to our cleaning and sanitization exercise ahead of CSEC and CAPE. Thank you for being good corporate citizens. The communities of Morvant/Laventille continue to benefit from the generous support of this Company. On behalf of the schools that are recipients, we really want to thank you for being there consistently. This is not a one time; they are consistent in their support and that is what we mean by being a good corporate citizen.”
Principal (Ag.) of Success Laventille Secondary, Stacey Lezama said, “Angostura® has been more to us at SLSS than a Company operating out of the Laventille community; they have been a friend, a neighbour, a support and always there.”
Vice-Principal of Bishop Anstey High School, Ms. Winzy Adams said, “Students at Bishop Anstey High School have been adapting to online learning very well. Students who work primarily with cell phones as their only device, as well as those completely without devices, are at a serious disadvantage to accessing their online classes. The donation of the laptops from Angostura® is very much appreciated as it would now allow our students to obtain unlimited access to their classes.”
Angostura® understands the importance of helping students during these unprecedented times, since not every student has access to online learning. This donation from Angostura® is one of its latest initiatives to assist students. The Company also donated book vouchers and stationery packages to SEA students from the Morvant/Laventille communities, and to NGOs to distribute to Primary and Secondary school students. Hand sanitizers were also donated to every Government and Government assisted school in June in time for students writing exams in July/August.
As we fight COVID-19, and the impact on our beloved country, let us work together to assist those less fortunate and the future generation.