St Rose’s demolition to start during Easter holiday

 – as Cabinet gives ‘no objection’ to $16M contract

Cabinet on Tuesday approved a $16.9 million contract for the demolition of the St Rose’s High School. The contract was awarded to PD Contracting.
According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, the demolition exercise was expected to commence during the upcoming Easter holiday break when school will be closed.
“The displaced students will be accommodated in buildings within the school compound in the new school term,” Harmon said.

Last month, the school’s Board of Governors Chairman, Kenrick Thomas, in a letter, indicated that the demolition would be limited to the aged wooden section of the building facing Church Street that was in a state of disrepair.
“This decision was taken only after extensive consultations over many years to determine the viability of retaining this edifice because of its historical importance and architectural integrity. After much deliberation and with the primary goal being to provide a safe, up-to-date and innovative building for the development of our students, and only after exploring every option to preserve the building was the decision unhappily taken to demolish the structure,” Thomas had stated.
He noted that given that it was almost entirely made of wood – some portions 100-plus years old, the building was now structurally incapable of providing a safe environment for the more than 700 students that utilise the facility. Because of this, he added, the auditorium has not been used as a general meeting hall for the past five years and the building was evacuated completely during the past year to ensure that there would be no mishaps.
Nevertheless, the Chairman 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 reconstruction is intended to take place immediately following the demolition and the project is expected to last for approximately 24 months. A Trinidadian firm with strong Guyanese roots – Bynoe, Rowe & Wiltshire, won the bid for the architectural design and consulting services contract.
Meanwhile, Cabinet on Tuesday also approved the award of a $16.2 million contract to A & N Enterprises, for the rehabilitation of the Ruimveldt Police Station.
Additionally, ‘no objection’ was given to a $25.1 million contract for the supply of multi-media equipment for the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). This contract was awarded to Digital Technology.