WASHINGTON, D.C., August 14, 2020 – His Excellency Sidney Collie, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), was presented with 12 reconditioned laptop computers on Thursday, August 13, 2020 by Mr. Jay E. Lightfoot, a CTE teacher at the Northumberland High School in Heathsville, Virginia, at the Embassy of The Bahamas, 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
The presentation of the 12 computers was a follow-up to an initiative organized by Mr. Lightfoot in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, which caused massive destruction to the northern Bahamian islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco early in September of 2019.
According to Northumberland High School’s website, students in Mr. Lightfoot’s class “worked diligently to refurbish computers for Bahamian students every Friday, through the Virginia STAR program.”
The initial goal of the project was to rebuild “75 Dell e7450 notebooks,” according to the website, and on December 19, 2019, Mr. Lightfoot posted an update on the project, in which he noted, “This project was completed yesterday with the delivery of 77 computers to the Consulate of the Bahamas. While there our group met with the Ambassador and the Consulate General.”
Mr. Lightfoot added, “All of the representatives from the Bahamas were very welcoming. All of our students were impressed with the people they met. The Ambassador explained that each of these computers will help serve four children in the Bahamas — an impact much larger than previously imagined.
“Towards the end of the meeting the Ambassador told my students that he considered them (and all donors who have helped the Bahamas) to be “Angels” who will help the Bahamas recover. This made a notable impact and I believe that all of my students will remember this project for their entire lives.”
Commenting on the additional 12 computers presented to him on Thursday, Ambassador Collie noted on his Facebook page: “We cannot thank Mr. Lightfoot and the students of Northtumberland high school in Virginia enough for more technology assistance. This time 12 more high powered, touch screen fully loaded internet ready reconditioned laptop computers for virtual learning at the University of The Bahamas. A grateful nation thanks you most sincerely.”
