Restoration Works Advancing at Lacovia Primary and Infant School

Restoration works at Lacovia Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth are progressing steadily as the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information rebuilds institutions damaged by Hurricane Melissa, with an emphasis on resilience against future adverse weather events.

During a recent visit to the institution, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry, Senator Marlon Morgan, reported that contractors are on site undertaking structural repairs to the administrative block, which sustained extensive damage.

He explained that the administrative building was among the areas most severely affected, noting that flooding occurred after the roof was displaced.

Senator Morgan stated that the Ministry’s foremost priority is ensuring restoration works are executed swiftly and to a standard that guarantees durability.

He indicated that the roofing solution being implemented requires additional structural reinforcement to accommodate a concrete deck.

“They are putting in and reinforcing columns at present, because the roof that was there could not have managed a decking. So the roofing solution that we’re using at this space, going forward, is to deck the roof,” Senator Morgan explained.

The Parliamentary Secretary affirmed that the works are consistent with the Ministry’s wider commitment to safeguarding teaching and learning spaces islandwide.

“This underscores and brings into sharp focus, yet again, our thrust, as a Ministry, to restore our teaching and learning spaces. It is incumbent on us as a Ministry and as a Government to continue to provide safe spaces for our students. We want to just provide support to the school and assure the public, our stakeholders looking on, that our restoration efforts are on in earnest,” Senator Morgan added.

Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth North Western, Andrew Morris, expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the restoration works.

He emphasised the importance of ensuring that students in the constituency have a suitable environment for teaching and learning.

Mr. Morris also welcomed the Ministry’s direct involvement in monitoring the project, noting that such oversight ensures accountability and quality.

Senator Morgan also visited Ballard’s Valley Primary and Infant School and Clapham Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, as part of the Ministry’s ongoing inspection of restoration works at education institutions across the parish.