A delegation of officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology led by minister Chester Cooper traveled to Grand Bahama this week to assess the readiness of school campuses there ahead of the start of the new academic year.
The group visited the site of a proposed new school to be constructed in High Rock. The project is backed by financing from the Caribbean Development Bank. Cooper said, “works are generally underway as it relates to the designs. We’re having very vigorous discussions as to what the potential outcome will be, what it will look like in the final analysis. I’ll have more to say about that in due course.”
They also visited the McLean’s Town Primary School, where work remains incomplete. The school was rebuilt after sustaining extensive damage during the passage of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Cooper said, “this is an important stop because after Hurricane Dorian this was an area that was absolutely devastated. The school was devastated and it’s been rebuilt, and we’re now having a few cracks here in the belt course – that’s just below the roof for persons who may not know what I’m talking about. But that work is going to be done. The structure is strong – I’m advised by the Ministry of Works. Cosmetically is looks bad so we’re going to fix it as soon as we have an opportunity.”
The education minister addressed the need for a sea wall as the school is located near the waterfront. He said he has been advised by the Ministry of Works that a wall will be constructed at some point. “I satisfied, as the minister of education, that we have an enclosure here that protects students from wondering off in that directions which is not what we want to happen.”
Cooper emphasized that every child matters and that small communities have the attention of the Government.
