US$2.6M contract awarded for works at Good Hope Secondary

The Education Ministry on Friday signed a contract to the tune of US$2,607,879 for the completion of outstanding works on Good Hope Secondary School.
The construction of the school, which falls under the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project and is being funded by the World Bank, was awarded to Dean + Partners – the supervisory consultants for the project.

The school, which is estimated to house a total of 1000 students, will see works being done in areas such as the installation of electrical panels and cables, the installation and connection of all plumbing fittings and fixtures, repainting of the facility, finishes to windows, doors, roofs, remedial works to the floors, and much more.
The works are expected to be completed by June 30, 2023.
Subject Minister, Priya Manickchand related that upon completion all primary tops across the East Coast Demerara (ECD) will be closed. Immediately after opening, a total of 479 students will be placed at the school to continue their studies.
The Minister explained that Good Hope Secondary School is important because it will help to achieve universal secondary education in Guyana.
The state-of-the-art building will consist of fully equipped Home Economics and TVET buildings, a full complement of science laboratories, an allied arts department that caters to Music, Visual Arts, and a Dance Studio along with 25 classrooms, 3 Information Technology laboratories, an audio-visual room, and a large library.
The entire facility was designed to accommodate persons with special needs through the use of ramps and two elevators. Male and female washrooms are provided for all students and teachers. These will be connected to a pressurised water system to ensure adequate supply at all times.
The entire school site will be fenced with three accesses and on-site parking.
There will be two entrances for staff and students with the third to facilitate deliveries to the TVET building. The site will be fully landscaped and may be used for outdoor sports.
The school was designed in 2017 by VIKAB Engineering and works commenced on site in October 2018. A contract totalling US$4,082,506 was awarded to BK International on October 1, 2018, for the construction of the building which was expected to be completed by January 14, 2020.
However, the firm was unable to deliver despite benefiting from four extensions being given on March 10, 2020, May 18, 2020, June 15, 2020, and August 17, 2020. And the contract was terminated on May 25, 2021, on the grounds of fundamental breaches in the contract such as not maintaining a security bond and delays.
Since the termination of the contract, several options were explored by the Ministry to have the school completed in the shortest time possible, including engagements with R Bassoo and Sons, repackaging works into smaller lots and retendering, and also entering into a management/EPC Turnkey contract with a suitable consultant.
After much consideration, the Ministry found most it suitable to enter into a management/EPC Turnkey contract, after being approved on September 19, 2022, by the Government of Guyana. The deal was offered as a direct contract to Dean + Partners.
Additionally, works at the Yarrowkabra Secondary School, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is also expected to be completed next year which will bring a close to some of the primary tops along the Highway and will reduce the overcrowding at the Soesdyke primary and secondary schools.
According to Minister Manickchand, these new schools along with the new building for St Rose’s High School, the extensions at East Ruimveldt Secondary, St Winefride’s Secondary, St Joseph’s High, Queen’s College, the Bishops’ High and the new building for the St George’s High School, will ensure the children in Georgetown and Region Four are accommodated comfortably.