Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education Youth and Sports, and Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Works and Transport and Area Representative for Cayo Central, inaugurated a new school building that will improve the educational environment for over 185 students and teachers at Buena Vista Government School on Monday, June 18, in Buena Vista Village in the Cayo District.
Buena Vista Primary School presently has a population of 185 students, 8 teachers and staff members.  The students are housed in two buildings. One is a single-storey three-classroom concrete facility constructed in 2002 and the other is a two-storey wooden building. The wooden building is a two classroom facility but currently houses four classes and the Principal’s office. This has created a severe over crowding situation at the school. In addition, the wooden building is deteriorating rapidly and is in need of rehabilitation. The new facility, will solve the problems caused by a lack of space and create a more pleasant learning environment for teachers, current and future students.
The project entailed the construction of a four-classroom, single-storey Ferro-concrete facility. The building has 3,300 square feet in floor area and includes a sanitary block with male and female bathrooms for both students and teachers. The structure has a reinforced concrete foundation, columns and floor and roof slabs. Storm-guard aluminum windows and wooden doors were installed. Ramps and stairs for easy access were also provided.
The project was implemented by the Social Investment Fund, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports at a total cost of $476,541. $428,886 was a grant from the Caribbean Development Bank under its Basic Needs Trust Fund 6. The Government of Belize contributed approximately $47,654, while the community of Buena Vista provided some furniture for the school. Buena Vista Village is located about 13 miles from Belmopan. It is about 4 miles from the Western Highway and is along a road that diverts from the road at Iguana Creek Bridge that goes to Spanish Lookout.
