BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — CONSTRUCTION of the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School is scheduled to begin this year, with the goal of completing the new institution in time for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Minister of Education Geoffrey Hanley confirmed that the tender process has been finalized. Initially, one contractor was set to handle the project, but now three contractors will collaborate to build the school.
When asked by SKNVibes News for an update on the project, Minister Hanley explained that the bidding process has closed, and the bids are currently being evaluated. The successful contractors will be announced soon.
“There may have been some delays, but everything has worked out for the best. The Joshua Obadiah School project will now offer at least three contractors the opportunity to contribute, as opposed to the original plan, which involved just one contractor,” the minister explained.
In March 2022, the school was deliberately set on fire, causing extensive damage to the walls, furniture, and books in the kindergarten and grades one to five classrooms.
At the time, the police determined that the fire was an act of arson. Assistant Commissioner of Police Andre Mitchell stated that a team of senior investigators visited the site the following day and confirmed that the fire had been deliberately set.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was no accident. We have identified the areas where several fires were lit. It is disheartening to see the lengths to which someone went to damage an institution of learning that serves our children. A thorough investigation is underway to find and bring to justice those responsible for this crime,” ACP Mitchell said at the time.
