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Praise for school clean-up after dump fire

Government schools most affected by the massive fire at the Marsh Folly Dump have been given a clean bill of health following an extensive clean up drive by school custodians.Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith also issued assurances that should it be found that water tanks at the schools need to be cleaned, “it will be done”.Assessment visits, headed up by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Warren Jones were completed “to ensure that proposer ventilation had occurred, and that each school was thoroughly cleaned”.All surfaces were wiped down with disinfectant.The Minister added: “Out of concern for students with asthma, the Ministry consulted with health officials, and it was determined that it was not necessary to test air quality primarily because the process of cross ventilation was sufficient enough to eliminate any air quality issues.”The water tank at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and others which do not have piped water, showed no visible signs of debris and were chlorinated.Assessment visits were carried out at Victor Scott Primary, Prospect Primary, Prospect Preschool, CedarBridge Academy, Devonshire Preschool, Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and the Child Development Programme.The Department of Health also commissioned Bermuda Water Consultants to test for bacterial, organic and inorganic chemicals, including bacteria, pesticides, metals and other contaminants.Minister Smith also commended the work of Facilities Manager Cleun Gaiton and his team of school custodians, “who had the unenviable job of cleaning up” after the fire on March 30.And she expressed her thanks to Bermuda’s brave firefighters, Public Works employees who assisted, the school principals and teachers involved in addition to the school custodians “who take great pride in ensuring that students have a safe environment in which to learn”.