BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ABOUT a month after the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ((NIOSH)) Report on the Basseterre High School was received, Minister of Education the Hon. Shawn K. Richards advised that the Federal Cabinet had completed reviewing it.
Richards updated the nation on this development during a presentation at the third sitting of the Federal Parliament which began yesterday (Jul. 29).
He explained that Cabinet’s review of the Report was completed on the previous day and that in keeping with the government’s promise to make its contents public, copies have been circulated to the relevant stakeholders.
“As such, in keeping with the promise which has been made, copies of the Report were also circulated yesterday (Jul. 27) to the various stakeholders. As a matter of fact, there is a meeting scheduled by the stakeholders tomorrow at 10:00 to review and discuss the contents of the NIOSH Report…”
NIOSH is the last of several organisations and bodies to have conducted investigations and tests at the Basseterre High School compound after many complaints were lodged by teachers and students that the environment there was making them ill.
Among the results of that situation is that the Basseterre High School had to be closed and the students and faculty are now sharing the Washington Archibald High School facility with the staff and students there on a shift system.
The Hon. Richards informed that possible sites for the construction of a new Basseterre High School are being looked at.
“…We are also in the process of looking at a number of sites for a brand new Basseterre High School in keeping with our promise to the people, in keeping with our promise to the students and the teachers.
“At this particular point in time, we are endeavouring to bring an end to the shift system at the earliest possible convenient time. We have engaged the essential government technical teams who are advising us on the policy position of the government.”
The Education Minister said a recent Cabinet meeting had involved a meeting with representatives of the two affected schools and he advised that as other information about the situation becomes available, it would be passed on to the public.
