Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, Dale Butler, proclaimed himself a ?very happy man? to see his former gym back in a first-class state after a $80,000 renovation project.

Mr. Butler was present at St. George?s Community Centre gym this week ? formerly the St. George?s Secondary School gym where he was once principal ? to cut the ribbon which signalled the re-opening of the facility after extensive repairs to the floor.

He stressed the importance of the facility in giving young people a place to go.

The old floor needed to be taken out and new flooring, done by Stafford Flooring, was put in ? the entire process taking about two months to complete ? and is now a ?universal gym? floor, which can be used for eight different sports, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis and badminton.

According to owner Randy Stafford, the gym had leaks which caused damage to the flooring and sections had been replaced with plywood, which made it unusable.

?It was not a place you would go and have a good game of basketball,? said Mr. Stafford.

Also in attendance were area MP Dame Jennifer Smith and Supervisor of St. George?s Community Centre, Charlie Marshall who thanked Stafford Flooring and the Ministries of Works and Engineering and Sports.

?This gym is being used on a constant basis. We also have individuals from off the cruise ships using the facility for playing basketball,? he said.