The Ministry of Education broke ground last week on the new Theoline L McCoy Primary School hall, which will double as a hurricane shelter, in Bodden Town.
The 14,136-square-foot multi-purpose facility will have a minimum shelter capacity of 600 people, and feature a commercial-grade kitchen and a large stage.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Lyneth Monteith, acting chief officer at the ministry, said, “We will soon be able to provide the children of the Theoline McCoy Primary School with a space to assemble, have school meals and engage in indoor sporting activities, allowing them even greater opportunities to thrive.”
Governor Martyn Roper, who also attended the groundbreaking, said, “The construction of the new hall, which will also serve as a hurricane shelter, reflects the government’s commitment to the future of our community and our young people in delivering a quality education.”
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education, preliminary work on the hall began earlier this month, with the project managed by the government’s Public Works Department, and the Phoenix Group carrying out the construction work.
Also speaking at the event was Dwayne Seymour, deputy speaker and parliamentary secretary for the ministries of labour, housing and transport, who attended the primary school as a student.
He committed to renaming the new hall in honour of retired Bodden Town Primary School principal, Francine Gardner.
Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said of Seymour, “He knew what it was like to be at this school and not have the necessary infrastructure to excel and break those glass ceilings for obtaining an excellent education. He never forgot from whence he came or the teacher who had his best interest at heart.”
Director of the Department of Education Services Mark Ray chaired the event, at which Reverend Euthman Wray of the Webster Memorial United Church delivered the opening prayer, and Richard Wildman, acting senior school improvement officer, gave the vote of thanks.
The Theoline McCoy Primary School choir and a rendition of the National Song by Genesis Bush and Sapphire Ebanks rounded out the first segment of the event.
Among the other attendees were Premier Wayne Panton, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders, Tourism and Transport Minister Kenneth Bryan, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Social Development Heather Bodden, Ministry of Education’s facilities manager Clive Baker, PWD project manager Cherry-Ann Mungroo, and Phoenix group director Brent McComb.
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