It all started in 2019, the school was in desperate need of renovations and reconstruction but the project was held back due to the pandemic, and it wasn't until 2021 that they commenced work again. It is a 1.5 million dollar project under the Caribbean development Bank's flagship poverty reduction program. And Gales Point matched their criteria, and was much in need of a proper primary school and preschool. Both the project manager and principal agreed that the old structure was surely not a safe environment for learning.

Doreth Dennison, Project Manager, CDB
"if you would see the before pictures there was even an old building for the preschool. It was you know it had bad infestation, the toilets, everything it was not conducive for learning. In the primary school it was very hot, the ceiling and just the way it looked so all of that went into trying to make it more cooler, a better learning environment for the kids and also for the teachers who labor of love with these kids so it's just to make sure everyone is comfortable, yes."

Shermadine Samuels Andrewin, Principal, Gales Point Government School
"Oh it was very dilapidated the ceiling, stuff was falling from the ceiling, the furniture was not good some of the windows could not open the classroom was very dark so that was one of the reasons we could not stay here in this building because you know our children have to be safe they need to be in a safe environment, happy when learning so that is the reason we didn't stay here and the preschool was also in a very bad state, they had animals living in the building while the students were in it so that is the reason we needed a new preschool building and today it is a reality."

"We moved from here to the community center in April of last year and in April of 2025 we are back here at our school so it took us one year at the community center."

But aside from having retrofitted this facility, it also doubles as a much needed hurricane shelter. Dennison says all of this was taken into consideration upon planning and designing.

Doreth Dennison, Project Manager, CDB
"So we rehabilitated the roof you can see we have those hurricane louvres we have the bathroom annex and in there has showers so in times of disaster if it is to be used as a shelter and then there is also those shutters at the end there that also rolls come so then it will protect everyone from the elements so you know all of that went into it even in the classrooms. The classrooms have doors leading from one classroom to the next so no one has to come outside so we took all that into consideration when we were building this classroom for the safety of the community as well it is their building."

And now Andrewin says she can breathe a sigh of relief, and hopes that more residents will want to send their children to school here instead of having their children commute.

Shermadine Samuels Andrewin, Principal, Gales Point Government School
"Words can't even explain how I feel to have this to come and work in everyday a spacious environment, a place where students are comfortable, where they are safe, where they can learn, where they could produce and enjoy themselves when learning. It is very very nice and very beautiful. Especially with our bathroom Nextdoor we don't have to go outside in the weather when it's raining now we have to just go from class to class so the classrooms have connecting doors which we didn't have at first so it is very nice. The school is very spacious so we don't have to worry about any animals in the preschool. All the teachers are safe in there the students are safe and they are very happy i know the community is also very happy about everything that has been done here for Gales point government school and we really appreciate the work of the government of Belize, social investment fund, Caribbean development bank and all the partners who helped to make this a reality."

It's a small step towards bringing more life and activity back to the village, and in her new role as minister of state in the prime minister's office, area rep Balderamos Garcia says this one particular project is very close to her heart

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Area Representative, BRC
"Gales Point is a special community and we do not want to see it be a dying community for example cause you know you have many elderly people and you have many children but some of the adults and the working population have to leave the village for jobs. Now as you heard the chairman Jason Alshaft say some of these jobs are coming back into the community so that the community can grow once again and we are hoping the enrollment of the school here which is just over 70 children we are hoping that can grow because there is a bus that comes in every morning that brings some of the children and teachers because I think actually marriage to the village and actually living in the village is only the principal at this point so the other teachers come in on the bus along with some children but with this beautiful facility I am hoping the enrollment can go up."