The first phase of the new Berkeley secondary school project will be completed by September 5, Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent said during the Budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Mr. DeVent said all efforts were being made to finish the classrooms in the first phase of the school - Block A - for the start of the 2005/2006 school year.

“We have met all our targets so far and envision it will be the same for all the others,” Mr. Devent said.

Mr. DeVent said his Ministry worked quickly to re-start work at the site after Pro-Active Management Systems were let go last year.

He said the first order of business was to complete work on the roof which was not watertight making it difficult for contractors to work inside.

Mr. DeVent said there were 180 workers at the site with a peak of 194 workers on February 28.

He expected the number to exceed 200 in the next two weeks.

“We have been working with the Education and Development Ministry for the phased hand-over of individual zones of the school,” he said.

Estimated costs for the project reached $79,765,165 in January.

“Upon completion the students will have a first rate learning facility we can all be proud of,” Mr. DeVent said.