THE California-based DILIEU Technology has donated $100,000 to the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD), to assist with the general operations of the institution.

The donation follows recent Observer reports that the school, which has locations in Kingston, Mandeville (Manchester) and Montego Bay St James, may face closure, due to rising operating costs and dwindling support from overseas sponsors, who provide the majority of sponsorship.

Senior partner at DILIEU Technology, Gareth Spencer, who made the presentation at the Jamaica Trade and Invest offices in New Kingston on Wednesday, said while the company’s focus was providing technology to assist with crime-fighting, DILIEU also wanted to play an integral role in education and community development.

“Education… is paramount to the country’s development and therefore the decision to make a contribution to the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf was an easy one,” he said.

“We see this as a long-term partnership and we will continue our efforts in whatever and whichever areas are necessary,” he pledged, expressing the hope that the contribution would impact on the children’s lives in a positive way. “We look forward to working even closer with (the facility),” he stated.

In accepting the donation, principal and administrator of the institution’s Kingston campus, Maria Lawrence, thanked DILIEU for the kind gesture, adding that “it will go a far way”.

The Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf was established in 1958 to cater to hearing-impaired students from pre-school to the high school level. It is an independent institution but receives support from the Government to pay salaries.

A total of 261 students are enrolled at the institution, with 85 at the campus in Kingston; 120 in Mandeville; and 56 in Montego Bay. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has pledged assistance to the cash-strapped institution.