LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON COMING TO OFFICE, THE CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION MET THE DAME DORIS JOHNSON SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE FINAL STAGES OF COMPLETION AT A COST OF  $9 MILLION IN ROUND NUMBERS.  CLASSES WERE HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME, COMMENCING IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A BOUNDARY WALL ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, A STORAGE BUILDING AT THE REAR OF THE SCHOOL AND A SECURITY BOOTH AT THE ENTRANCE GATE.

MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF MANY THIS SCHOOL WAS BUILT WITHOUT ANY PROVISIONS FOR SPORTING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS SPECIALTY CLASSES SUCH AS COSMETOLOGY, MECHANICAL AND WOODWORK. ON TOP OF THIS, AFTER HAVING CONSTRUCTED SUCH A MODERN BUILDING, NO PROVISION WAS MADE AS WELL FOR LANDSCAPING WHICH TOGETHER I AM ADVISED ARE ALL “PART AND PARCEL” OF A WELL ROUNDED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, MY MINISTRY’S TECHNICAL OFFICERS, ALONG WITH CONSULTANT ARCHITECT WINSTON JONES AND ASSOCIATES, DEVELOPED ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENTS TO CONSTRUCT:

• A TWO STOREY BUILDING, COMPRISING SOME 9,065 SQUARE FEET, TO ACCOMMODATE THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS’ OFFICES, STUDENTS CHANGING/LOCKER ROOMS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS ROOMS,   A COSMETOLOGY WORKSHOP; AS WELL AS
• TO CONSTRUCT SPORTING FACILITIES COMPRISING TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, TWO VOLLEYBALL COURTS, ONE TENNIS COURT AND BLEACHERS AT THE DORIS JOHNSON SECONDARY SCHOOL LOCATED ON PRINCE CHARLES DRIVE, NASSAU, BAHAMAS.

THE FOLLOWING WORKS WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED:
• SIDE WALKS;
• A COURTYARD;
• SITE LIGHTING;
• CHAINLINK FENCING; AND
• A PUMP HOUSE
AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THESE WORKS, THE INSTALLATION OF A RUNNING TRACK FOR ATHLETES WILL MAKE THIS IMPORTANT SECONDARY SCHOOL COMPLETE.

OF THE FIVE (5) GENERAL CONTRACTORS INVITED TO TENDER, FOUR (4) SUBMITTED BIDS.
 

SCORPIO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WAS EVALUATED AS THE LOWEST BIDDER AND HAS BEEN AWARDED THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,246,564.76 WHICH IS INCLUSIVE   OF A PROVISIONAL SUM OF $125,000.00 TO COVER COSTS FOR SINK-HOLES AND ADDITIONAL FOUNDATION WORKS. THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD IS FORTY WEEKS.

SCORPIO CONSTRUCTION LIMITED, HEADED BY MR. STAFFORD “SCORPIO” EVANS IS A SEASONED BUILDING CONTRACTOR WITH A POSITIVE TRACK RECORD BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

I ALSO WISH TO ADVISE THAT THE MINISTRY OF WORKS, FOLLOWING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, ALSO ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH REDWIN A GRANT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR TO CONSTRUCT A TWO STOREY BUILDING TO ACCOMMODATE TWO TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS FOR AUTO-MECHANIC AND WOODWORK WITH MEZZANINE STORAGE LOFT FOR EACH DISCIPLINE, AT A COST OF $737,606.00.    THE OVERALL AREA OF THE WORKSHOP IS 6,500 SQARE FEET ALONG WITH SERVICE BUILDING OF 120 SQUARE FEET TO HOUSE THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SERVICES FOR THE UNIT.    WORK IS PROGRESSING WELL UNDER THIS CONTRACT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE CONTRACTS THE CHRISTIE ADMINSTRATION PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED FOR WORKS AT THE DAME DORIS JOHNSON SECONDARY SCHOOL AS WELL AS THIS ONE TODAY ARE FOR WORKS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS FIRST CONSTRUCTED.

EFFECTIVE AND FOCUS LEADERSHIP  WOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT STUDENTS ATTENDING THE DORIS JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL FROM THE DAY IT OPENED ITS DOORS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A TOTAL AND WELL ROUNDED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

FUTURE LEADERS, AT ALL LEVELS, MUST ENSURE THAT THE PIECE MEAL APPROACH THAT WAS TAKEN IN THE BUILDING OF THE DORIS JOHNSON SECONDARY SCHOOL MUST NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

ENGAGING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN ENJOYABLE AND POSITIVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WILL ALSO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD ACCOMPLISHING BROADER SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY GOALS REQUIRED FOR NATION BUILDING. EXPERTS ASSERT THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIOR PATTERNS ARE ESTABLISHED EARLY IN LIFE. THERE IS MUCH EVIDENCE THAT ACTIVE CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME ACTIVE ADULTS.
IT IS MY VIEW THAT ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD IMPLEMENT A PLANNED PHYSICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM THAT MAXIMIZES PARTICIPATION, ENJOYMENT AND SKILL LEARNING. PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION OUGHT TO BE PERCEIVED AS IMPORTANT AS LITERACY AND NUMERACY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOLING YEARS.

I SIEZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SPECIAL PLEA TO THE TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE STUDENTS TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE OF THE FACILITIES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT. NOT ONLY IS THIS  THE PROPER AND SENSIBLE THING TO DO, BUT IT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND THAT THE MONIES SPENT IN UNNECESSARY REPAIR WORKS COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE IN PROVIDING THE TOOLS AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO ENSURE MAXIMUM TEACHING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AS THIS GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO RAISE THE EDUCATIONAL BAR.

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE BAHAMAS.