Whitney Institute students returned to school without an assembly hall, despite promises that it would be ready for the new school year.

Works and Engineering Minister Leonard Gibbons last month promised that the hall would be ready by this month.

But when contacted yesterday, Whitney principal Gail Graham told The Royal Gazette the school was still waiting for the hall to be completed.

"The exterior is completed and the landscaping looks wonderful,'' she said.

"But they are still working on the ceiling. There was a site meeting last week. But they have not given us a date (on when it will be completed).'' Mr. Gibbons said he was also "upset'' about the status of the building.

Government has promised Whitney an assembly hall since 1972. Construction on the hall began two years ago and was originally expected to be completed in February.

Mrs. Graham has noted that when it rains, the school has been unable to hold assemblies which are normally held outdoors.

And she pointed out that prizegivings and graduation ceremonies had to be held in rented facilities.

Yesterday, Mrs. Graham said: "I'm seriously hoping that our annual prizegiving in November will be the first event.'' "We never invited people to our prizegiving because we had it at other venues,'' she joked. "If we have the assembly hall this year, we will invite everybody.

"It is going to be beautiful when it is finished.'' The new building will be able to be divided into three sections and used for a variety of functions, including as a cafeteria and for courses in the arts.

Architect Bob Winters, who is now facilities coordinator for the Implementation Team at the Education Department, said he was scheduled to meet with the contractor, DeCosta Construction Limited, yesterday afternoon to "sort some things out''.

"We were hoping to do the punch-list (final) inspection, but some things have not been completed,'' Mr. Winters said. "It is outside of my control.

"Theatrical contractors are fitting out the stage with all the lights and curtains. And there are lights that have to go into the assembly hall.'' He also noted that the assembly hall stage was expected to be completed three weeks ago.

"How long the other things will take will depend on the contractor,'' he added. "Hopefully, we will be able to determine whether the punch list inspection can be done before the end of the month.'' Last night after visiting Whitney, Mr. Gibbons said: "We're not happy. We have had the heat on them (DeCosta Construction) for weeks. My Permanent Secretary has been talking with them on a regular basis.

"The ceiling people were supposed to finish tonight.'' Mr. Gibbons added that he hoped the hall will be completed "within a couple of weeks''.

No one from DeCosta Construction could be reached for comment yesterday.