By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Ministry of Housing Parliamentary Secretary Brensil Rolle yesterday hit back at Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, accusing the Marathon MP of being “biggity and evasive” in his defence of the government’s $500,000 allotment to repair the Rum Cay All-Age School.

Mr Rolle urged the minister to “come clean” on whether the contract was issued to a PLP general, as well as the circumstances surrounding the bidding process for the contract.

He also warned Mr Fitzgerald to “sit small” until his ministry can successfully conclude the number of outstanding public school bathroom repairs in the country.

The back and forth between the two politicians started after Mr Rolle questioned the half a million dollar expenditure to repair the tiny school, which has nine students.

Mr Rolle also criticised Mr Fitzgerald for posturing ahead of the opening of the new school year, even though repairs are continuing on some schools on the island.

“I have absolutely no appreciation for a minister who would permit our precious children to return to the abysmal and unhealthy state of the restrooms in many of our schools at the beginning of the school year, including Garvin Tynes Primary, where chairs have been placed over the toilets to show that they are out of order,” he added.

“I suggest that the minister sit small until the bathrooms in the schools are repaired. At least then our children and educators would feel comfortable being able to use the restrooms at their schools. And while you are at it minister, please provide the schools with sufficient cleaning and sanitary materials so that teachers do not feel obligated to ask students to bring these essentials to school.”

He added: “As usual, and consistent with the PLP’s style of arrogance in governance, instead of providing the scope of works for the repair of the school in Rum Cay or providing a reasoned explanation for issuing this historically huge and unprecedented contract, the minister deliberately attempted to lecture and belittle a retired educator with many years of experience in the classroom and demand that he sit small and be quiet.”

“In his usual haughty and pompous manner, the minister refused to provide evidence to show that the Bahamian people were getting value for money, and that the contract was not padded. The minister’s cavalier non-response demonstrates with clarity the arrogance and total disregard that he and his government have for accountability and transparency in the spending of public funds and good governance.”

He added: “We also note with particular interest that the minister has not denied that the contract was issued to a general in his party, neither did he make any comment about the bids that were given to him for repairs. We challenge the minister to come clean.”

On Sunday, Mr Rolle said the FNM was “stunned” by the price tag for repairs to the “small, one-room” school and alleged that the contract was given to a PLP general in Sal Salvador, who is allegedly subcontracting to a Rum Cay resident.

On Monday, Mr Fitzgerald responded by saying that Mr Rolle “lacked an appreciation” for “what’s really going on” in the Ministry of Education with regards to school repairs.

He suggested that Mr Rolle “be quiet” if he has nothing constructive to say about the government’s 2015 Public Schools Repair Programme.

This week, an official at the Rum Cay All-Age School told The Tribune that the repairs will include the addition of four new structures to the existing building.

The school official, who asked not to be named, told The Tribune that upon the completion of repairs, the school will be outfitted with a computer lab, a library, a principal’s office, staff room, student male and female bathrooms, a teacher’s bathroom, along with a kitchen and cafeteria.

Additionally, the official said the existing one-classroom structure will be divided into four classrooms.