BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ON the heels of the Basseterre High School air contamination issue, another high school has found itself in a similar situation.
The discovery of asbestos was made in an unused building at the Cayon High School (CHS) and has resulted in that structure being scheduled for demolition.
SKNVibes learned that the asbestos was found through a crack in the wall sometime during the school term (Sept. to Dec.) and that the matter was reported to the Ministry of Education.
This media house also learned that an environmental health officer visited the campus to test for asbestos although it was believed to have been removed in its entirety in the 1990s.
The Ministry of Education notified the staff at the CHS that the demolition process would begin sometime during the course of this week.
A sign is expected to be posted to alert the public of the demolition.
The building which is expected to be demolished is one that has not been used for a number of years and recently served as a SELF book storage room.
This demolition action comes almost three weeks after teachers at the Basseterre High School began a sit-in following unsuccessful attempts to have their concerns about unsafe environment at the school addressed.
The teachers were of the view that chemicals from abandoned laboratories were causing them and students to fall ill.
Through the Teacher's Union, they announced that they would not be holding classes until they were assured that the environment within which they worked was safe.
A team of researchers from Trinidad came and did an assessment which ruled out radioactivity as well as a number of gases, but results for tests done for biological agents and respiratory particulates were not readily available.
Since then classes have been relocated to Warner Park and the Old Girl's School until the end of the school term.
The work on the building is expected to be completed before the start of the next school term.
