Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville on Monday expressed much delight over the ongoing construction of a new junior high school for Holmes Rock, West Grand Bahama.
Dr. Darville joined Education Minister, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald in touring the construction site early Monday morning. He also noted that the complex is designed to be a hurricane shelter for the West Grand Bahama District.
The Government, on September 8, 2016 signed two contracts totalling $11,523,470 for the project which is expected to be a replica of the Sister Mary Patrica Russell Junior High School in Freeport.
The contracts in the amount of $5,761,735.00, each, were awarded to Brickhouse Construction, a firm headed by Lloyd Rolle, and RCL Construction headed by West End native, Hilton Bowleg.
Dr. Darville said he was pleased with the rapid pace at which the contractors were moving to get the foundation completed.
He pointed to the height of the foundation noting that they learned a lot from recent hurricanes, the importance of making sure that government buildings are above sea level.
“So, with the construction of this building we will not only have a school, we will have a hurricane shelter for the residents of Holmes Rock.”
Dr. Darville further stated that on completion of the edifice, students will have a state-of-the-art school where they will be able to function effectively.
The school is also envisioned as the nucleus of future new subdivisions in the Holmes Rock area.
The Minister anticipated that some 100-120 persons will be employed in the construction phase which could last up to some 18 months.
CONSTRUCTION SITE – Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville points out some features of the new $11.5 million government-owned junior high school under construction in Holmes Rock, West Grand Bahama. Dr. Darville is also an engineer. He is pictured with the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, March 20, 2017. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)
By Simon Lewis
Bahamas Information Services
