Good morning, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report on the future use of closed and soon to be closed schools.

Mr. Speaker, in April 2019 the Minister of Education announced the permanent closure of the T. N. Tatem Middle School and responsibility for its use reverted to the Ministry of Public Works.

Mr. Speaker, as I reported then, the buildings could not simply remain shuttered while we decided their future use. Everyone knows what happens when any building in our sub-tropical climate is closed – it is the perfect environment for Mold and mildew – [Bermuda’s National Flower] – to flourish.

I conducted a tour of the facility to ascertain what steps should be taken to ensure the integrity, security, and ongoing cleanliness of the buildings. We discussed the temporary repurposing of some buildings so that there remained a physical presence on site to discourage vandalism, damage, or even unauthorized occupancy of the buildings. All of which have occurred over this period.

Mr. Speaker, several classrooms – particularly those in the family services block – a single-story structure at the eastern end of the property -were suitable for various community activities that could provide that physical presence we sought. Included in that area is a weight training room, carpentry and woodwork shops, family studies, a kitchen and counselling rooms along with bathroom facilities. All these areas tested clear of any mold or air quality issues.

Mr. Speaker, Pembroke Hamilton Club [PHC] have had a long-standing lease arrangement with the Ministry of Public Works for the use of the playing field for both football training and their multitude of community programmes – so it was a natural fit to approach them first to see if there could be some temporary expanded use of the school facilities, that could assist with their programmes.

They were very receptive of the offer, and we have provided use of classroom space for their after-school programmes and football facilities.

Mr. Speaker, at that time there were 5 entities occupying space at the facility. They included, Bermuda’s most outstanding professional boxer, Mr. Nikki Bascome who runs a boxing gym – that also caters to young folk interested in the sport, Mr.

Michiko Campbell (now joined by Mr. Darius Richardson) who run an afterschool carpentry programme for students, Ms. Gina Thomas is running Hidden Treasures Thrift Boutique, Mrs. Lucinda Worrell-Stowe ran Positive Energy Community Kitchen and Mr. Cervio Cox is running a fitness gym in the gymnasium that is geared more to the casual fitness buff rather than the hard core gym rat.

Mr. Speaker, sadly Mrs. Worrell-Stowe passed earlier this year, and we have identified another chef to take over the community kitchen. The Ministry has purchased the equipment so that the site can remain a community kitchen where entrepreneurs can book kitchen time to prepare their goods.

Mrs. Worrell-Stowe also used the kitchen to teach difficult students how to cook and become productive citizens. Discussions are ongoing with the new operator to still include that option that helped so many young people.

Mr. Speaker, over the five years that the site has been occupied 11 other community minded groups / individuals have taken space, Restoration Ministries of the 7th Day Adventist Church, Tomorrow’s Voices – the Autism charity, Grace Point Church, Omar Smith – Ink Press Services , Deondre Morris – martial arts / after school programme, Reuben Bean - Jiketsu Martial Arts, Fitness and Natural Healing, entrepreneurs Keola Thompson, Teja Warner, Sherron Mills, Shermicka Brown and Akil Darrell – all have storage space there.

Mr. Speaker, Tatem is fully booked now and there is a waiting list for space. Each organisation must have a community aspect to their business. The site is a thriving community that willingly shares resources and work well together. Each entity pays a nominal fee towards electricity used based on space and type of activities they are involved in.

Mr. Speaker, the next school to close was the Heron Bay School. Several options have been considered, presently, it has bene determined that the upper level will be reserved for co-operative enterprises replicating the success at TN Tatem and building a similar community.