The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Staff Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SOME 300 LN Coakley Senior High students in Exuma are attending school half-day because of water shortage issues, according to acting Director of Education Dominique Russell.

She said the water pump on the campus for senior students is not working, although junior high students have access to running water.

She said the Ministry of Education will temporarily send a new water pump to replace the old one. The Water and Sewerage Corporation is also expected to install a holding tank.

Ms Russell said the water pump broke down because of electrical overload.

“BPL has advised that the school is on a single phase, and so what they are seeking to do is put the school on three-phase to handle the electrical load,” she said. She could not say when BPL would make the necessary upgrades.

Belinda Wilson, president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, said LN Coakley High School has had water issues for years.

“I call upon the Ministry of Education to ensure that this matter is corrected once and for all,” she demanded in a voice note while stressing that the matter is a health issue.

“We definitely do not want to have a possible COVID outbreak or some sort of communicable disease on that campus without fresh running water, so it needs to be corrected forthwith,” she said.

“The teachers are sick and tired of excuses. All we want to do is teach and work in a clean, healthy environment.”