Work on new St Rose’s High building ahead of schedule

Work underway (Ministry of Education photo)
Work underway (Ministry of Education photo)

Construction on the new building for St. Rose’s High School on Church Street is moving apace and is currently ahead of schedule.

A Ministry of Education release yesterday stated that Education Minister, Priya Manickchand was made aware of this development when she visited the construction site to assess how the work was progressing and to address issues affecting the school.   

She was accompanied by her Permanent Secretary, Alfred King; Special Projects Officer, Ron Eastman; and Technical Officer to the Permanent Secretary, Cosmo Browne. The team met with representatives of the company that was awarded the contract, Shandong Dejian International as well as representatives from the consultancy firm on the project, Kalitech Inc Engineering Design and Supervisory Consultants.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand (left) at the site (Ministry of Education photo)

According to the release, the contractor informed the team that the construction of the school is currently 10 per cent complete at a time when it should have been 8% complete according to the established schedule. This was confirmed by Eastman.

Manickchand in turn reminded that the ministry will continue to monitor the project closely to ensure completion according to the contractual timeline so that students can benefit from the new building.

Currently, students are presently being taught in classrooms that are located in a section of the old building which hadn’t been demolished due to its structural soundness.

However, there were complaints regarding noise emanating from the construction site which the release stated would be addressed by the contracting firm.  Manickchand requested that a system be put in place to reduce the inconveniences that arise from the work being done.

Another complaint was the backup of sewage in the compound of the school which is being addressed by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). Following her visit to the construction site,  Manickchand and team met with GWI staff working at the Camp and Quamina streets Sewage Station and discussed the matter with Sewer Maintenance Officer, Akedo Softley. The release added that he explained that the sewage blockage is created when nearby residents allow prohibited items to enter the sewer line which in turn would affect the school. He committed to having the matter addressed within the next several days.