Labour Minister Derrick Burgess has visited a Caribbean polytechnic which five Bermudian students dropped out of last year because their marine engineering course was not ready.

Mr. Burgess attended the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic in Barbados with Robert Horton, the permanent secretary at the Labour Ministry; director of labour Milton Scott; Herman Tucker, chairman of the National Training Board (NTB); and NTB executive director Michael Stowe.

The NTB is sponsoring 13 students at the institution on a variety of courses, including horticulture, computer repairs, carpentry and auto body repairs.

But last November the Government pulled five students out of a marine engineering programme there after they complained that it was “not quite ready”.

Mr. Horton told The Royal Gazette: “The Minister was assured that challenges associated with the marine diesel programme, from which five Bermudians had withdrawn late last year, had been resolved.”

He said free tuition was offered to the five students if they wished to re-enroll in the programme. “Minister Burgess was pleased to note that the difficulties had been resolved and re-affirmed Government’s commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding between Bermuda College and Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic.”

He added: “Before completing an extensive tour of the polytechnic’s facilities, the Minister engaged in a comprehensive discussion on other services that the polytechnic might provide for NTB-sponsored students.

“He also had the opportunity to meet with the Bermudian students themselves; he was particularly pleased to note (an) observation that the Bermudian students were performing superbly overall, in terms of both scholastic performance and overall deportment.”

Mr. Burgess also visited Barbados Community College and the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and was due to meet the Minister of Education yesterday. Mr. Burgess’ Caribbean trip included a visit to Trinidad to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Caribbean office and the Industrial Court in Port of Spain. Mr. Horton said the Minister found time to watch Bermuda versus India in the Cricket World Cup.