The Tribune

A NEW computer lab and after school learning programme was officially opened at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in East End, Grand Bahama on Saturday.

Pastor Israel Pinder and his wife, Nadine, said the project is a dream that has come to fruition.

After completing renovations to the church in High Rock, the couple decided to establish a computer centre to benefit students and residents in their community, which was devastated by Hurricane Dorian three years ago.

Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey, and Kwasi Thompson, member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, were present and delivered brief remarks.

The centre is equipped with ten brand new computers, desks and chairs.

Pastor Pinder said that without the help of so many, the centre would not have become a reality.

He also acknowledged his wife who was at the forefront of the project.

“I want to recognise the heartbeat of this project, my wife, Nadine. God placed this dream in my heart and I told her how I wanted to accomplish it and she took it on, and helped to get it done,” he said.

Mr Pinder recognised Mr Thompson, the Sunset Pilot Club for its IT support team, sponsors and volunteers.

“If it was not for everyone, it would still be a dream. I want to thank God for touching your hearts, and helping us accomplish this dream, and to everyone who supported this vision one way or the other,” he said.

Ms Moxey commended Pastor Pinder and his wife for providing a valuable resource to the community.

“This is a place where residents come to gain valuable skills, connect with others … and I commend Pastor Pinder and lady Pinder, and Emmanuel Baptist Church for providing this valuable resource to the community.

“Let us all be inspired by what you see here today and remember that we all have a part to play. We can no longer work in silos,” she said.

Mr Thompson said he was pleased to be able to partner with the Pinders in the opening of the computer lab in High Rock because technology is very important.

“It is a great day for East Grand Bahama, and I want to commend Pastor Israel and lady Nadine, and the entire church. It was a privilege for me to be able to partner with them in providing a number of computers for the computer centre.

“It is part of our vision for the entire constituency,” added Mr Thompson. “We also did it in Freeport, now in our East Grand Bahama community centre, where we have a computer centre. And so, this is just an extension of being able to provide computers for the High Rock community and East Grand Bahama community. We are going to Sweeting’s Cay on Sunday to provide computers to the clinic, and to the clinic in High Rock as well. So, this is an ongoing programme that we have to touch the lives of East Grand Bahama.”

Franklyn McCoy, president of the Sunset Pilot Club of Grand Bahama, said they were happy to help.

“We recently assisted Bartlett Hill Primary with installing their computers, and so we were delighted to also come down and provide IT support, with the help of Mr Harry Fernander, to Pastor Pinder at Emmanuel Baptist Church.”