The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald has approved some $200,000 for major roof repair work at the Eight Mile Rock High School in Grand Bahama after teachers last week refused to teach in classrooms infested by mould and pigeon excrement.

Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has said that the infestation problems have been an ongoing issue at EMRHS. She said the conditions are unsafe and can pose serious health risks to teachers and students.

While in Grand Bahama yesterday, Mr Fitzgerald explained that, once there was a concern, tests were conducted by the Ministry of Environment. “They gave us advice on what to do, and we acted right away and scrubbed and cleaned it,” he said. He met teachers and assured them that the ministry is moving quickly to resolve the roof problem.

“It is a concern and whenever there is a matter that involves the health of students and teachers, I take it serious and get directly involved,” he said.

The minister said that the entire roof of the affected classroom block has to be replaced. The scope of works, he said, will cost over $200,000.

“Last year, parts of the roofs were repaired; obviously, the extent of the damage was much greater,” he said. “There are leaks throughout and pigeon droppings that have impacted the structural stability of the roof. I want to assure teachers and the community … that we will move quickly to resolve the problem. Now that I have a full briefing on what the situation is, I have approved the expenditure and we are expecting to get mobilisation for the contractor to start in short order.”

Mr Fitzgerald hopes that the work will be completed in a two-month period. “We are talking about taking off a roof - that is going to be a couple of months. I would be surprised if we had this block (finished) before end of the school year, but we may be able to do it.”

In the meantime, he said plans are on the drawing board for a new school in the West End area. “That school, we are looking to get started shortly,” he added. Mr Fitzgerald said there are also a number of old schools in The Bahamas that needs rebuilding.

Mr Fitzgerald said he supported the Minister of Immigration on the new policy regarding school students. “We have Bahamian children whose parents have not registered their births,” he said. “They do not have a birth certificate and they don’t realise this until they apply for a passport or are trying to get off to go to school because 18 years ago their parents did not register the birth. We are now also using it as a mechanism to ensure that all students and children are properly registered and have the right documents in place. I am urging parents, and even Bahamian mothers, who have not gone and registered their child to get a birth certificate, to do so because in September we will be asking for those as well.”

Mr Fitzgerald said the country’s immigration laws must be enforced and adhered to. “Part of that is ensuring that everyone who is in the country is documented and has proper documentation to be in the country. We expect between now and September - we have given everyone notice - every child to be properly documented and presented when they come to school.”