The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Works Neko Grant along with other Cabinet ministers flew to Long Island last Friday to officially open new classrooms at the Mangrove Bush Primary School and NGM Major High School. Already one of the country's leading public high schools, Mr Grant said NGM Major will become even better at producing students who contribute to the development of Long Island and the Bahamas, thanks to the new infrastructure. According to Mr Grant, the 3,360 sq ft technical block added to NGM Major in Buckley's cost $293,000 and will facilitate classes in cooling systems, needlework/sewing and technical drawing. The building also includes a storage area and mechanical room. Education minister Desmond Bannister said the new block will "permit students to enhance their skills in technical training". Constructed at the express request of Mr Bannister, the two-room classroom addition to Mangrove Bush Primary cost $357,500 and "will facilitate further growth and development of our young students," Mr Grant said. Also present, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said Long Island produces some of the best public education graduates in the Bahamas, and that the additions were much needed. Long Island MP Larry Cartwright said he was happy to the see both projects completed during his time in office and encouraged students to take advantage and care of their new classrooms. While in Long Island, Mr Grant also signed contracts for repairs to the dock in Clarence Town and the construction of adjacent public toilet facilities. Both contracts were awarded to Laurin Knowles & Sons Construction through a public tender process. The dock repairs will cost $59,000 and are expected to be completed in 120 days. The toilet facilities will cost $82,512 and should be completed within 12 weeks. The settlement, which is regularly utilised by local fisherman, mail boat operators and their passengers, and pleasure boaters, is a "centrepiece of Long Island," Mr Cartwright said.