By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Monday 28th February 2022) — To mark Black History Month observed in February, Cradles Learning Centre located in the Fortlands community has hosted school tour visits featuring local Black public figures in various fields including education, pageantry, community involvement and nation building. The nursery and preschool centre is owned and operated by husband and wife Beverly ‘Teacher Bev’ and Lester Ible.
Teacher Bev explained the inspiration behind the tour: “What really pushed me is because during the past summer, while I was talking to the children, they said they wanted a white Barbie doll or they wanted a doll with straight hair. This really encouraged me to have this type of activity at the school.” For Teacher Bev, having the royal presence of reigning St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival Queen Nekirah Nicholls was extra special as it relates to images of beauty for the young black girls at the school.
Among the visitors was SKNLP National Leader Dr. Terrance Drew on Wednesday 23rd February, who said: “I want to congratulate Teacher Bev and her husband and the staff for the impressive school that they run here. This is a good example of what our citizens can do when given the opportunity to display their talent and their innovative minds. This represents where we are as a people — this is an example of the best of St. Kitts and Nevis.” St. Kitts and Nevis’ only Living National Hero and first Prime Minister Dr. the Right Hon. Sir Kennedy Simmonds was also greeted by students on Thursday 17th February, who commended the school for preparing children for primary school and beyond.