GAYLE, St Mary-Tacky High School was not the national project but the huge turnout of volunteers at the St Mary-based institution on Labour Day to effect repairs to the facility which was badly damaged by fire set by arsonists was indicative of the national interest which has been generated by this dastardly act.

A section of the school was reportedly set ablaze by criminals who attempted to rob the institution.

Hundreds of persons from across Jamaica showed up at the school on Labour Day to undertake the task and not even the pelting rain could dampen their spirits.

Principal Errol Boscoe, who was very enthused about the assistance given to the institution, expressed regret for the circumstances under which help came to the institution. A grateful Boscoe, said he would, however, love for people to be helpful even outside of disasters.

“I like what I am seeing,” Boscoe told the Jamaica Observer North East.

He explained that the volunteers represented a large number of institutions.

Volunteers from as far as Kingston, including students from Kingston College supported Tacky which also bears a similar motto: “The Brave May Fall but Never Yield”.

Parents, students, teachers and community members were also main contributors to the project.

Although the rebuilding process has not started, several areas of the school were transformed through the joint efforts of the many persons present.

Sections of the school, including those affected by the fire were power-washed. Other activities included the painting of all classrooms, the covering of the burnt area with ply wood, landscaping and tree planting.

“I am very appreciative of it,” Bascoe said, while pointing out that the school was grateful for all the assistance it can get as it tries to pick up the pieces after such devastation.

Among the institutiong represented at the Labour Day exercise were Total Tools, HEART College of Hospitality Services, Jamaica National, Couples Resort and Jamaica Beverages.

Also participating in the day’s activities at the school were the St Mary Police, youth arms of both the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) G2K and the People’s National Party’s PNPYO.

JLP Senator Robert Montague, who had suggested that the project to repair Tacky High be the national one said he was pleased with the number of persons participating in the Labour Day activities at the school.

“I would have loved for it to have been the national project but with this number of persons it is as if it is the national project. The turn out is excellent and they are demonstrating that the Tacky High School is the people’s national project,” he told the Observer North East.

Montague also congratulated the parish council for diverting funds from the parish project, which was the lock-up at the Richmond Police Station, to assist the school.

He also lauded the high level of support from the community. Tacky High, he said, has been a very influential school in the community and so the community was giving back to the school.

One community member Sherrel Frost said although her children attended another school she had to help.

“My children are students at Ocho Rios High School but as a community person, I have to help,” she said.