Contractor seemingly abandoned construction of new wing at St Rose’s High – School Board

Contractor Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited (CBCSL) has seemingly abandoned the construction of the new wing of the St Rose’s High School at Church Street, Georgetown.
This is according to the school’s Board of Governors which on Tuesday said that its only role in the construction of the school’s new wing was that of consultation, facilitation, monitoring and acting as a safeguard in the interest of the students and staff of the school, the alumni, the convent and the other stakeholders at large.
The Board explained that the CBCSL has been preventing the Education Ministry from facilitating regular stakeholders’ meetings to inform on the progress of the project.
The contract for the reconstruction aspect of the building was awarded through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board by the Education Ministry to the CBCSL in August 2018, following the demolition of the old building. However, the redesign and approval process for the variation to that contract to facilitate the new piling foundation works took over a year before it was approved for commencement by the Ministry before the CBCSL could have begun work.
The Ministry, after approval was given, tasked the contractor with installing approximately 220 timber piles late in 2019 following the completion of the variation process. The Board was informed by the Ministry that the contractor had requested a mobilisation period to accumulate the number of piles, equipment, and the relevant personnel and that the variation piling works of the said contact were set to commence early in 2020, which did occur.
The Board said that as the variation process of pile installation unfolded, it observed that the CBCSL, in a peculiar move, refused to submit directly to them – upon formal request – or make public either its work plan for the variation piling works.
“Further, the contractor sought to prevent the contracting entity (the Ministry of Education) from holding regular stakeholder consultation update meetings with the Board or any other stakeholders which is vital for a project of this nature, size, and complexity, as it allows for smooth execution of works while keeping all informed of the issues and concerns arising from construction. It must be noted that in the two previous stages of this building redevelopment project, the contracting companies readily agreed to and accepted those two vital safeguards while executing the relevant works. Those entities were PD Contracting Inc, which executed the demolition works aspect and Bynoe, Rowe and Wiltshire which executed the building design aspect of works,” the Board said in the statement.
The Board noted that it was observed that the consultants, hired by the Ministry to overlook the construction process, were not retained rather the Ministry chose to conduct daily monitoring internally. That move, coupled with the CBCSL’s reluctance to engage, made it difficult for the Board to adequately consult, monitor, facilitate and safeguard the interest of the students and staff of the school, the alumni, the convent and the many other stakeholders at large.
“Since the variation piling works began earlier this year the Board observed that approximately 85-90 per cent of the piling works was completed by the contracting entity in a relatively short space of time; however, recently, it was observed that the contractor had removed all of their construction pile driving and other equipment, the remaining piles and all construction personnel from the site, which is an indication to the Board that the site has been seemingly abandoned by the contractor.
“With the only direct contact being with that of the Ministry of Education, the Board now awaits their direction since the variation piling works have not been fully completed by the contractor and further no aspect of the main building works has neither been approved nor has begun,” the Board explained.
The Board, while reminding that space is sought since staff and students have been utilising the remaining parts of the school, said it was hopeful that the reconstruction would be executed in a timely, accountable and effective manner to the satisfaction of all concerned, with the aim of maintaining the original contracted time line.
Back in 2018, $16.9 million was awarded to PD Contracting for the demolition of the St Rose’s High School Church Street building.
Back then, Chairman of the Board of Governors Kenrick Thomas had said that all options were explored before the decision was taken to demolish the school’s timber building which faces Church Street. The demolition was expected to pave the way for a modern building to be erected.
Thomas had assured that the replacement structure would incorporate many aspects of the original design and would integrate the design of the Marion and other wings on the property, including retention of the green space courtyard area, a unique feature of the school.
The demolition exercise commenced on July 9, 2018.
Efforts by Guyana Times to contact the CBCSL for a comment on the situation proved futile. (G2)