Guapo Government Primary celebrates 120 years

GUAPO Government Primary School is celebrating 120 years of excellence.

The “school on the hill,” as it is commonly known, was the early education foundation for national shotputter and javelin thrower Geraldine George, former police commissioner Trevor Paul, former national footballer Keyeno Thomas, comedian/actor Errol Fabien, and thousands more. Even a century later, teachers say students continue to make them proud.

Former and current staff members, as well as students, gathered on November 9 to celebrate the milestone at the Point Fortin Borough Corporation’s town hall in Mahaica. Many who had not seen each other in years greeted each other with warm hugs.

Despite the many changes the school has undergone over the past century, some things have remained constant. Everyone spoke of excellent educators who were sometimes strict but also knew how to have fun.

The school is along the main road in Gonzales Village, Guapo in Point Fortin.

Current students proudly wore green overalls and white shirts, for the girls, and blue shirts and khaki pants, for the boys.

They spoke of some of the stories their grandparents, who also attended the school, told them.

In a monologue, a student said, “Back then in those days, there was no technology. No fans, no cellphones and no AC, yet, the school produced some of the best students. And box lunch? No such thing.”

Some of the older folks reminisced on walking to school barefooted, and their recess treat of milk and biscuits.

Others recalled Mr Fraser, who also taught physical education, telling students who lost their pencils to go to a specific area on the compound where they would find a “pencil tree,” and students would go rushing.

Joining in on sharing fond memories, Fabien joked that he “could not get away from school.” In addition to his father being the principal or headmaster, at the time, they lived on the school’s compound.

“When there was a problem in the school with the milk and biscuits being stolen, (my father) bring the milk and biscuit home and make it easier for we (me and my siblings) to thief it. Dem biscuit was good,” he reminisced as the audience laughed.

“So instead of thieving a couple, we used to thief it by the pan.”

He also recalled "raiding" the school's garden during vacation time.

Laughing, he likened the way young school boys would play in his days to animals.

“We used to ride bamboo (by) cutting it in half and climbing up to the top and rock it (until we fell)...We used to also play catch in water tank stands, jumping from one to the next. We were like little monkeys.”

“Little boys does get themselves in a lot of dangerous things, you know,” he added.

He said it was at this school, he took his first steps towards being involved in the performing arts.

“My first introduction to the stage was (here). The experience was so fun.

“We went to perform in Lot Ten, and I went on stage with a big grater. I was very small and the grater was very big. I had it behind my back and yuh still seeing it. And I went on stage to say, ‘Christopher Columbus was great, but this is grater.”

He hailed the school as the "greatest institution and character-building space" he has ever been part of.

But he urged education ministry representatives there to “get the school back on the hill.”

The original school was demolished almost two decades ago and a prefabricated building has been in use since. This building is where the school’s mini savannah/recreational grounds were, where student-athletes would train and others would play.

“We want back our school. We not happy at all. The school in the savannah.”

The school’s principal Michelle Nandlal said she was thrilled to celebrate 12 decades of “academic development and holistic excellence.

“Founded in 1904, at the time of the school's establishment, access to education was limited and students came from as far as Rousillac, Vessigny, Vance River and Salazar Trace...and found a place at Guapo.”

She said the school’s foundation was built with “a vision of academic excellence and holistic growth that still shines brightly today and is evident in the many.”

She thanked staff, students and stakeholders for their continued support.

“And as we look forward to the future, together we can face challenges ahead and ensure that the school continues to grow, adapt, and inspire, ensuring that our school remains a centre of excellence, innovation, and cultural pride for generations to come, where every student will find happiness in their learning journey and be prepared for the future.”

School supervisor II Allan Ramdeen said he could not imagine the wealth of contributions a school made over 120 years.

“And that speaks to the kind of commitment from teachers and principals such as yourself…to ensure that every child gets the best that education has to offer, and has every opportunity that is laid out before them, to put up so that they can explore it.

“There is no limit when a child's mind is open and his possibilities are explained to him. And when a child is determined and taught by determined teachers, and they're doubting you, you will achieve what you have set out to do.”

He said the milestone is a “major achievement.”

Point Fortin mayor Clyde James also spoke and told current and former staff members of the school: Well done.

“We look forward, with interest, to see the growth of this institution. I want to thank you for the job you have done over the last 120 years serving this community, moulding the minds of people and making sure you have done the foundation for what they have done in their lives and what they will continue to do in the future.”

Past principals were honoured including Monica George, Josephine Mark, Judy Kelly and Elizabeth “Liz” Noel-London.

The school also paid tribute to the late Otis Morrison, who died in 2022 while saving a child from drowning. He was posthumously awarded the Hummingbird Bronze Medal for bravery. He, too, was a past student of the school. The audience applauded him for his heroism.

Many shared Fabien’s sentiments of getting the school “back on the hill.”

Newsday contacted Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly for comment, but no response was provided.

The 2025 Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) document says in fiscal 2024, emergency repairs for AC were done at the school. There is no other mention of the school in the document.