Eight-hundred construction jobs have been created this summer as a result of ongoing school repairs, which according to Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, is costing the government some $4.5 million.

Mr. Fitzgerald made the announcement during his contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday.

He revealed that some $3.3 million have been spent to repair public schools in New Providence alone.

“Various contracts for repairs were given to 74 contractors,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.

“Fifty of those 74 contractors had not received any work from the ministry in the past five years and 20 had never received work from the ministry before. We at the ministry are extremely proud that we are able to spread the work around and empower many small contractors.”

The education minister said although some contractors were upset by this new method – some of which have been awarded contracts for the last 20 years – his ministry intends to continue to spread the work around to different contractors.

Minister Fitzgerald also responded to Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis’ accusations that he holds an interest in a company doing business with his ministry.

“I am extremely disappointed in the member of Killarney,” he said.

“In fact, he should be ashamed of himself for attempting to muddy up my name in this place. Had he done his homework, as he should have as leader of the Official Opposition instead of just reading questions given to him by some political hat, he would have known that the company JFK Construction, not JFK Painting was one of the 74 companies that received contracts for the repairs,” he said.

Minister Fitzgerald stated unequivocally that he does not own any shares in the any of the companies nor does he have any intention of doing so.

He noted that the contractors who live in the communities are actually the ones who are completing the repairs.

The minister said that he would not apologise to anyone for awarding contracts for school repairs in his constituency to contractors who live in the constituency.

Earlier this week Minister Fitzgerald continued his nationwide tour of public schools by visiting Sandilands and Palmdale Primary Schools, D.W. Davis Junior High School and C.I Gibson Senior High to assess the repairs being carried out.
He said so far he is very pleased with the level of works he has seen.