Eslyn Henley Richiez Centre Reopens
The new Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre opened in the Fifth District on Monday, restoring a purpose-built special education facility eight years after hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed the original building. Education Minister Sharie deCastro hailed the centre as a ‘‘rebirth’’ for special education in the Virgin Islands and said it is the first purpose-built facility of its kind in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre officially reopened on Monday in the Fifth District, marking a major milestone for special education in the British Virgin Islands after eight years of displacement following the 2017 hurricanes. Education Minister Sharie deCastro described the opening as a ‘‘rebirth’’ and underscored the centre’s symbolic and practical importance. "This is not just a school.
This is a statement that here in the Virgin Islands, every child matters. Every mind belongs and every ability has value," she said, calling the project a transformation "from rubble to rebirth." The new 8,500-square-foot facility replaces the original school opened by the late Eslyn Henley Richiez in 1972.
It includes sensory and therapy rooms, a library, outdoor learning spaces and accessibility features designed for students with diverse needs. According to the minister, the centre is the first purpose-built special education facility of its kind in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Officials credited the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) and contractor Autland Construction for delivering the project, and thanked local donors including the Maples Group and Unite BVI for financial and in-kind support. DeCastro praised partners for ensuring that "architecture meets empathy," creating a space "where learning and love coexist for years to come." The centre’s staffing model reflects an integrated approach: special and general education teachers, learning support assistants and a school counsellor will work together to support students’ academic and social development.
The minister pointed to parents, teachers and advocacy groups who campaigned for the rebuild, telling families: "For eight long years, you waited, you advocated, you pushed for progress. You did not only help to build this building; you helped to build a system — a system that listens, learns, and loves your children as deeply as you do." For BVI residents, the reopening represents both a recovery milestone from the devastation of Irma and Maria and an investment in inclusive education.
The facility aims to provide a stable, accessible learning environment that keeps children with special needs in the local school system and reduces the need for families to seek services off-island. Named in honour of Eslyn Henley Richiez, a pioneer in the territory’s special education sector, the new centre stands as a concrete example of resilience and renewed commitment to children with diverse abilities across the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: BVI News