REMARKS

BY

THE HONOURABLE BRADLEY B. ROBERTS MP

MINISTER OF WORKS & UTILITIES

AT

THE SIGNING OF THE CONTRACT

FOR

“THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOME ECONOMICS LABORATORY

AT THE

ABRAHAM’S BAY, MAYAGUANA HIGH SCHOOL”

4.00 PM FRIDAY 10^TH AUGUST 2006

MINISTRY OF WORKS & UTILITIES

NASSAU BAHAMAS

COLLEAGUE CABINET MINISTERS ALFRED SEARS AND V ALFRED GRAY,

PERMANENT SECRETARIES BERNARD AND STURRUP,

OTHER SENIOR PUBLIC OFFICERS OF THE MINISTRIES OF WORKS & UTILITIES AND EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, A PLEASANT GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED TODAY TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THIS CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOME ECONOMICS LABORATORY AT THE ABRAHAM’S BAY HIGH SCHOOL AT MAYAGUANA ISLAND.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE BAHAMAS COMPRISES AN ARCHIPELAGO OF ISLANDS SCATTERED OVER SOME 700 SQUARE MILES OF WATER. THE LARGER NUMBERS OF THESE ARE INHABITED AND ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RANGING FROM AFFLUENT TO DEPRIVED LEVELS. BECAUSE OF THIS ARCHIPELAGIC STRUCTURE, COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN RESPECT TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ROADS, DOCKS, BRIDGES, SEA DEFENCES AIRPORTS, AND SCHOOLS ARE ASTRONOMICAL.

FURTHER, APART FROM FINANCING THESE PROJECTS, THERE ARE THE ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH STAFF HAVING TO TRAVEL FROM NEW PROVIDENCE TO THESE ISLANDS ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSPECTING AND MONITORING PROJECTS. WHAT THIS SIGNIFIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT AN EXCELLENT STANDARD OF QUALITY SERVICE BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES, WHETHER THE WORK IS IN NEW PROVIDENCE OR ON ANY OF THE ISLANDS IN OUR ARCHIPELAGO. 

THE MOST EASTERLY ISLAND OF THE BAHAMAS, MAYAGUANA STILL HAS ITS ORIGINAL INDIAN NAME. THE ISLAND WAS UNINHABITED UNTIL 1812, AFTER WHICH IT WAS GRADUALLY SETTLED BY PEOPLE FROM THE NEARBY TURKS ISLANDS. WITH ITS UNSPOILED BEACHES AND EXCELLENT SCUBA DIVING AND FISHING ENVIROMENT, MAYAGUANA ISLAND OFFERS A PERFECTLY RELAXING GETAWAY FOR VACATIONERS.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, ONE OF THE MAIN DEVELOPMENT THRUSTS OF THIS GOVERNMENT IS TO ESTABLISH AN ANCHOR PROPERTY ON EACH OF OUR MAJOR FAMILY ISLANDS.

AS IT RELATES TO MAYAGUANA, THE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY APPROVED THE DEVELOPMENTS PROPOSED BY THE I-GROUP.  HAVING GIVEN ITS APPROVAL TO THIS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO FELT THAT IT WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO RESPOND TO THE PROJECTED EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE LOCAL MAYAGUANAN IN ORDER TO EQUIP THE YOUNGSTERS IN THE SCHOOLS WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO ENABLE THEM TO EMBRACE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES EARMARKED FOR THE ISLAND. 

AND TO DO THIS, WE FELT THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOME ECONOMIC LABORATORY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN ABRAHAM’S BAY AS PART OF THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL SCHOOL REPAIR AND EXTENSION PROGRAMME WAS A MUST AT THIS TIME.

THE SCOPE OF WORKS OF THIS PROJECT CALLS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 3,281 SQUARE FT. BUILDING HAVING A 60.0 SQ. FT. COVERED WALKWAY.   

A DINING AREA COMPRISING 462 SQ FT. WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUILDING IN ORDER FOR STUDENTS TO BE TAUGHT  FOOD PREPARATION SKILLS, NUTRITION, PLANNING, AND THE FINE ART & SKILLS IN PROVIDING FIRST CLASS SERVICE TO VISITORS TO MAYAGUANA.  ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE A FRONT DESK RECEPTION AREA, WITH FULLY EUQUPPED WORK STATIONS, FULLY FURNISHED BATHROOMS, A KITCHEN, AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES  WHERE STUDENTS WILL BE TAUGHT BASIC HOUSEKEEPING CLASSES.   

IN LIGHT OF THESE URGENT NEEDS BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, T & B CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OWNED BY THOMAS & BRADLEY CHARLTON ALONG WITH THEIR UNCLE RUDOLPH FARRINGTON AND ESTABLISHED AT MAYAGUANA WAS INVITED TO BID ON THE PROJECT.  THIS COMPANY SUBMITTED A BID OF JUST UNDER $601,000.00 TO CARRY OUT THE WORK.   HOWEVER, AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TECHNICAL OFFICERS OF MY MINISTRY, A FINAL COST OF $518,459.08 WAS AGREED TO. 

AND THE COMPANY HAS ASSURED THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN 24 WEEKS OF COMMENCEMENT.

IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO EXECUTE THIS CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENT, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, and SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY.       

I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT, IN COLLABORABORATION WITH THE I-GROUP THE JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS WITH THE HOTEL CORPORATION WILL UNDERTAKE THE REPAVING OF THE MAIN ROADS, WHERE NECESSARY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I WOULD BE REMISS IN FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE HARD WORKING FAITHFUL AND DEDICATED MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, THE HON. V. ALFRED GRAY WHOSE TIRELESS EFFORTS FOR AND ON BEHALF THE PEOPLE OF MAYAGUANA HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS DAY.