Nassau, Bahamas ? The Government will acquire nearly one acre of land through a ?voluntary? transfer from Mekaddish Ministries. In return, Mekaddish Ministries will receive comparable land fronting on Pine Yard Road, in the area of the Sandilands Allotments.

Minister of Education, the Hon. Carl Bethel made the announcement during a press conference at the site on Monday, November 23. ?This land, together with a smaller tract of land which is to be also acquired by the government, will provide much needed extra space for the further expansion and development of Sandilands Primary School,? said Mr. Bethel.

Included within that expansion will be a building of additional classrooms, a teachers? lounge, and the development of a play and sporting facility. Mr. Bethel said that the goal of obtaining extra land for the expansion and improvement of the school has been a long-term one of the present government.

?I would classify this as an historic occasion and one that will greatly benefit the children of the Fox Hill Community, particularly those who attend the Sandilands Primary School.? Also present was Member of Parliament for Fox Hill, the Hon. Fred Mitchell who expressed his gratitude to the government and all those persons who were instrumental in getting the transfer completed.

Mr. Mitchell said that the idea spanned many hands including a change in government before coming into fruition. ?The Minister, as you know, is leaving for another job and so it is fitting that he is able to make this announcement and I hope he sees it as legacy to the children of Fox Hill.?

As one of the oldest campuses in the country, Sandilands Primary School was built in l898. Officially sealing the transfer of the land was Bishop Chadwick L. James; Head of Mekaddish Ministries International who said the long wait has been one of ?endurance.?

?It has been hard worshipping out of a container for the past year and we?ve even lost membership and have been unable to hosts conventions.? Bishop James said that it has been a long two years and he?s optimistic that they will be able to break ground before the end of the year. Mr. Bethel said that in order to complete the process, there are two mandatory steps that must be taken.

? We will immediately seek to finalize two things: the legal documentation to ensure that the paper is done and we will seek to obtain the authorization for Bishop James to move and begin his building forthwith.? The second step, said Mr. Bethel would be for Sandilands Primary to assume occupation of the land and do whatever they need to do in order to occupy and use it and at the same time, the government will acquire a smaller tract of land near to the site in order to complete the process.