Plans For Gilbert & Heron Bay Properties

Gilbert Institute is scheduled for closure next year and the “government has decided to convert this site into a seniors’ care facility” and the Heron Bay School property upper level will be reserved for co-operative enterprises and the lower level and field will be leased to Janeiro Tucker for use as a cricket academy.

This was announced by Minister of Public Works David Burch in the House of Assembly today [Dec 13] as he provided a report on the future use of closed and soon to be closed schools.

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

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 counseling rooms along with bathroom facilities. All these areas tested clear of any mold or air quality issues.

Mr. Speaker, Pembroke Hamilton Club [PHC] has 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 to 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 five 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 runs an afterschool carpentry programme for students; Ms. Gina Thomas, who runs Hidden Treasures Thrift Boutique; Mrs. Lucinda Worrell-Stowe, who ran Positive Energy Community Kitchen; and Mr. Cervio Cox, who is running a fitness gym in the gymnasium geared more to the casual fitness buff rather than the hardcore 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, and 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 organization must have a community aspect to their business. The site is a thriving community that willingly shares resources and works 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 been determined that the upper level will be reserved for co-operative enterprises replicating the success at T.N. Tatem and building a similar community.

I am also pleased to confirm that the lower level and field are to be leased to Mr. “Cup Match” Janeiro Tucker to facilitate his goal of having a cricket academy at the Heron Bay Field.

Mr. Speaker, Clearwater Middle School has also temporarily closed as a middle school with the long-term plan to convert it to a senior school. The school remains under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, who have indicated that it will be temporarily repurposed for use as a special school so that the current vandalism and destruction can be arrested and the asset protected.

Mr. Speaker, Gilbert Institute is scheduled for closure next year. To meet the high demand for seniors’ care, the government has decided to convert this site into a seniors’ care facility. The Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, under whom this will fall, is already collaborating with the Ministry of Public Works to advance this initiative before the school closes so that conversion works can commence immediately upon closure.

Mr. Speaker, as we progress through the education reform and other schools near their closing, the government will seek new uses for those facilities and encourage those in the community looking for space to apply. The opportunity to repurpose these buildings preserves their community impact and extends their legacy of positively influencing our communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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