BECAWU Optimistic Summer School Repairs Will Be Completed

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Newly appointed President of the Bahamas Educators Counsellors Allied Workers Union (BECAWU), Keysha Laroda, says a lot is at stake as teachers prepare to return to classrooms across the country.

We spoke to her via Zoom today, where she stressed that classrooms must be ready by August 24th, when teachers report back.

Her comments come after Education Minister Chester Cooper and Parliamentary Secretary Keenan Johnson recently insisted repairs are underway across New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the family islands.

Unfinished school repairs have been a problem that’s plagued successive governments, but does the union chief believe it will be a non-issue this year?

Laroda says teachers also believe safety is the top priority, warning they won’t start the school year in unfinished classrooms.

The union chief also says that concern goes back to issues flagged before schools closed.

Keysha Laroda – President, Bahamas Educators Counsellors Allied Workers Union, BECAWU

“Before the closing of schools we had some concerns on the islands of Grand Bahama and Exuma, and those schools would’ve been Bartlett Hill, Holmes Rock and Jack Hayward Sr., where you had issues of mold and structural issues okay, but since then I have been informed by area vice presidents on those islands that work has already began.”

Meanwhile, repairs have since begun on those campuses, and Laroda says the union will still carry out its own inspections.

She notes this yearly process helps ensure schools are ready.