Minister of Education Sonia Parag on Tuesday warned that contractors would face penalties for unjustified delays.
She made the statement after reviewing the progress of school construction and rehabilitation projects with consultants at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Speaking after the meeting in a video posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page, Parag said the ministry had already terminated some contracts after delays and extensions, and was monitoring work that had resumed under replacement contractors. She said consultants hired to oversee the projects would also be held accountable.
The projects include schools, dormitories and teachers’ quarters in several regions. Parag said some of the setbacks had occurred in hinterland communities, where children had previously travelled long distances to attend school. She said those journeys had discouraged some students from attending and that completing schools closer to their homes would improve access.
Parag said the review began shortly after 1 pm and lasted about five hours. Ministry officials went through the projects with the consultants responsible for them, examining what had held up the work and what could be done to meet completion dates.
“They have to up their workforce,” Parag said, adding that contractors could extend working hours or run two shifts where necessary.
She acknowledged that some projects might run slightly beyond their deadlines and said the ministry would work with contractors where it could see progress on the ground. Where the work was likely to fall well behind schedule, she said, “We are absolutely not going to tolerate that.”
Parag cited the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute among the larger projects and said some of the schools under construction were expected to accommodate about 600 to 1,000 students, with some taking more. She said several schools were expected to be completed before year-end, with some students expected to start in January. She did not identify the contracts that had been terminated or give revised completion dates for individual schools in the remarks supplied.
The Department of Public Information reported on October 9 that the hospitality institute at Port Mourant, Berbice, was about 80 per cent complete and expected to be finished by year-end. It said Canada’s Niagara College was assisting with the development of the institute’s curriculum.
Kiskadee Watch reported on September 1 that some schools had made temporary arrangements when classes resumed because construction was still under way. They included Airy Hall Nursery School. Parents and opposition representatives also raised concerns about unfinished facilities, leaking classrooms and inadequate furniture at several schools.
Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain, Permanent Secretary Shannielle Hoosein-Outar and Chief Planning Officer Mischka White-Griffith attended Tuesday’s meeting, along with engineers and other ministry officials.
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