Public Works ministry helps fund Sea Cadet building renovations

THURSDAY, OCT. 25: Good Morning,

I want to begin by acknowledging the huge value of programmes such as this offered to our young people by the TS Venture Sea Cadets. 

Over the past 30 years, the TS Venture Sea Cadet programme has been a significant institution within our West End community and their list of graduates reads like a Who’s Who in Bermuda! 

There is the late Major Chris Wheddon of the Bermuda Regiment; former Government Minister and Senator David Burch, and current Member of Parliament Mr. Charlie Swan who was a past Commanding Officer of the unit – to name but a few.

Additionally, we are equally proud of Mr. Jason Simons and Mr. Peter Simons, both of whom are sea-cadet graduates who went on to serve as excellent Commanding Officers of the TS Venture Sea Cadets.

The Government acknowledges the success of the TS Venture Sea Cadet programme.  We believe that programmes such as this can truly make a difference in the lives of our young men and women. 

If you ask any of the graduates, they will tell you that they acquired valuable life skills through their time in the Sea Cadets – skills such as respect for themselves and each other.  And, through the required community service, seamanship training, sailing, kayaking, cooking, drill and first aid classes, they gained skills that will come in handy for the rest of their lives.

Here at Forrester Hall is where the TS Venture Sea Cadet programme calls home.  The building has unfortunately been closed for the past 18 months as the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corp were challenged to find the finances they needed to provide the necessary renovations to their home.

In light of the significant positive impact that the Sea Cadet programme has on the community, the Ministry of Public Works is pleased to announce that we have decided to step in to provide funding that will assist with the renovation costs.

These funds will provide assistance to repair some of the major infrastructure challenges with the roofing, windows, electrical and plumbing.  The funds will also assist with a number of smaller tasks, such as revamping the Sea Cadets galley, adding new cabinets and small appliances.

We are pleased to be able to help such a wonderful organization and our young people with the kind of facility that they require to develop the kinds of skills, internal strengths and ideals that serve them well into adulthood.  The Government believes that the more we can do to help our young people make positive choices and move forward with confidence, the better our future looks.

I would like to say a big Thank You to the Springfield Community Centre that has allowed the TS Venture Sea Cadets to use their facilities in the interim while efforts were being made to secure funding for renovations to this building.

Thanks also to WEDCO General Manager, Andrew Dias and his staff at WEDCO who have worked tirelessly with us in bringing this project to fruition.

There has been much discussion over the past 18 months to get to this point as Bermuda Sea Cadet Association Executives - Mr. Keith Battersbee, Ms Ann Malcolm and Mr. Dwayne Trott can attest.  And after such lengthy discussions, we are pleased to finally be at the point where sleeves can be rolled up and the job can be done!

I am confident that in the end, the Forrester Hall building will be renovated to a very high standard and that the current Officers and members of the TS Venture Sea Cadets, parents and guardians will appreciate the hard work and effort that’s gone into the project.

In closing, the Government of Bermuda thanks WEDCo for partnering with TS Venture to ensure that this project can be completed.

Thank you.