THE construction work that was conducted by the visiting US Navy representatives on a Vura school classroom is progressing well as of last Saturday.
A visit by the Solomon Star to the school yesterday has seen the visiting friends going hard at work under the blazing heat of the sun.
Speaking to this paper in a brief interview, the crew leader SW3 Jonathan Walsh said that the team was very excited to do such work in the Solomon Islands.
“There are 15 people in my team, which I was the crew leader and we also have a site supervisor, and a safety field officer.
“Here, we are doing new construction where we build from beneath the building and straight to the top.
“Normally, we usually did simple renovation works like painting and repairing of buildings.
“So, we are very excited to do something like this,” the third class steel worker said.
He added that they will be doing a complete construction to the building that was left idle for the past three years.
“This building was started three years ago.
“For our construction work, we will erect a brand new sheet metal roof, a new side work, new railings, and complete a new electrical work for the whole building,” Walsh said.
Meanwhile, the schools deputy principle Richard Dereni told this paper that the school was very happy to see the US Navy coming to the rescue.
“The school never paid for anything, all the money funded for the project comes from the US government itself through the US Navy.
“All arrangements were made by the team, and this saves the school a lot of money.
“Actually to complete this building, the school needs SBD$1.2 million dollars, a sum of money that the school itself cannot raise.
“But thanks to the US government,” Mr Dereni said.
Meanwhile, according to SW3 Jonathan Walsh, the Vura school project costs them a total of USD$96, 651 dollars.
By RONALD FLIER TOITO’ONA
