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Minister of Physical Planning, Hon Michael Perkins along with his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ernie Stapleton to his immediate left and his staff of the Physical Planning Department on hand to see the progress of the playfield. |
Charlestown Nevis (January 24, 2005) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Physical Planning, Mr. Ernie Stapleton believed that it is time that the contractors on the island come together and produce some of their finest artistry on a larger scale.
He was at the time updating the Government Information Service on the progress of the Basic Education Project. He said, We are hoping that local contractors can combine together, form joint ventures or companies and work together to bid on these projects, so that we can have some local flavour in the construction of these projects.
The Basic Education Project is a St. Kitts-Nevis project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through the World Bank and has been on going since 1996. In Nevis, three schools are set to benefit from a US$3 million project, where the Administration has released an invitation for pre-qualified contractors.
The project comprises of a 3, 970 Sq ft one level building for The Special Education Unit, a 17, 160 Sq ft two level building for the Charlestown Secondary School extension program and a 12, 787 Sq ft building for the St. Johns Primary School.
According to Stapleton, certain requirements have to be met in accordance with CDB stipulations which are stated in the bid document, adding, As soon as we receive the pre-qualifications bid, and make a determination, we would go straight into the invitation to tender and the contractor would be chosen for construction.
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Backhoe at work on playfield adjacent to Charlestown Primary School. |
Nonetheless, I think it is a good investment by CDB in the economy of Nevis. You are talking about US$3 million which when converted is EC$8.2 million investment in the economy, the Permanent Secretary intimated. It would be a good thing, barring anything that hinders us, if we can get this project implemented and completed in 2005.
Meanwhile, Minister of Physical Planning, the Hon Michael Perkins who visited the Charlestown Primary School playground on Friday January 21, to get a first hand view of progress of ongoing works, said that the staff of the Physical Planning Department was accompanying him in order to prepare an overall development plan for the entire area.
Minister Perkins expressed the possibility of expansion work of the Charlestown Primary School along with the actual layout of the playfield, to include the necessary drainage and improvement to the infrastructural works in and around the area.
The playfield upon completion would benefit not only the teachers and student of the Charlestown Primary School but the Ramsbury, Craddock Road residents and surrounding areas.
