$15M to build Scarborough RC

He was speaking at a function where the sod was turned on Monday for the start of construction of Scarborough RC at Smithfield, Scarborough, in the Mt Marie area. The $60 million project is expected to take 18 months and London jokingly remarked that with more free time available to him from next year, he would be personally checking the site to observe the progress of the construction. London will be demitting office at the completion of 2013-2017 term.

He described as share relief how he felt about being able to reach the start of the project which has been labouring with the THA for quite a few years. He was happy to know that finally the children, staff and management will be accommodated in a modern, state-of-theart school that will rival many other primary schools in the country and within the region.

The school is necessary at this time, he said, because of the millions of dollars which the Assembly has had to spend over the years on school repairs every July/August vacation. London explained the THA wanted to build the school a long time ago but there was never any money for its construction.

He added the most money ever allocated from the central government was roughly $3 million until the new PNM administration came in and allocated $15 million.

It therefore meant the THA could at least start the project but the THA would have to transfer money from other sources to pay the contractor because it is committed to seeing the project completed.

Secretary of the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport, Huey Cadette noted the sod turning ceremony was a testimony of the courage and perseverance of the management and staff of the school because they have continued to perform admirably.

It is also a testimony of the patience of the members of the Parent Teacher Association who, according to Cadette, could have found ways to voice their displeasure but instead focused on supporting the management of the school.

He also credited the maturity and vision of the Catholic School Board, as they have been a significant partner in the development and delivery of education in Tobago.

The project will be managed by the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL) and the contractor will be Yorke Structures Limited.

The engineer and design consulting team is Lauriston Lewis Associates Limited. ECFL was represented by its chairman, Arnold Piggott and the other four directors of the company.

Yorkes Structures was represented by two senior officials.

Piggott stated EFCL has been given the assurance that Yorke Structures will observe the project schedule for on-time, within budget delivery. He said EFCL is breaking new ground in Tobago as this was the first project it will manage outside of Trinidad.

Upon completion the school is expected to accommodate up to 750 students. Piggott indicated the school when completed will be, “a modern learning edifice with the capacity to comfortably house an expanding school population.

The construction works will provide accommodation for the differently-abled, will include an administrative block, staff room, classrooms, covered walkways, an assembly area, playing field and canteen facilities.” He said Tobago’s rich cultural heritage and identity has been crafted into the design by Tobago born architect, Peter Phillip. Construction is expected to commence in October.