BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BY the next school term, the arrangement for accommodation of students of the Basseterre High School would change, with plans being made for most of the students to be placed in a more centralised area.
The students are currently scattered across various complexes and institutions. The First Form students are at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium, Second Form students are at the Methodist Church Complex, Third Form students are at the Advanced Vocational Education Centre (AVEC) and students of the Fifth Form are at the Premier Dental Complex.
During Tuesday’s (Sept. 15) sitting of Parliament, Minister of Education the Hon. Shawn K. Richards informed of plans that are currently afoot for the construction of wooden structures on portions of land to the south of the Beach Allen Primary School.
He said the Government has had to enter into negotiations with the land owners to make this possible and, once the project is completed, those buildings would be occupied by the First, Second and Third Form students of the Basseterre High School.
“I must also add here though, that the arrangement for the First, Second and Third Formers is a temporary arrangement which we expect to come to an end for the next school term. I say it’s a temporary arrangement because the Government, just last week, signed a contract for the construction of some new buildings which would be used to house the First, Second and Third Formers in one location.
“We were able to successfully negotiate with some persons who own land south of the Beach Allen Primary School. I am referring to the Boy Scouts and also the Lodge, who have also come onboard to assist the Ministry of Education. As such, very shortly, construction of some wooden buildings would begin in that particular area so that next school term we will move the First, the Second and the Third Formers into those buildings.”
Minister Richards also informed that a wooden building, which is at the Basseterre High School complex, is also being moved to the area where the new wooden structures are to be erected.
“Additionally, we are in the process of moving a wooden building from the Old Basseterre High School compound to the same area, south of Beach Allen. We have indicated that it is our intention to clean that building. There are some persons who are saying that the building should be cleaned before it is moved from where it is. The Ministry has taken a position that the building will be cleaned when it is fully placed in the temporary location south of the Beach Allen Primary School.”
The Education Minister noted, however, that the Government has not reneged on, and is still committed to its promise to construct a new Basseterre High School.
“…This Government is still committed to building a brand new Basseterre High School. We have said over and over again that we have absolutely no intention of compromising the health of the students, the teachers and the other staff members of the Basseterre High School. We are still fully committed and the work has already begun to ensure that indeed a brand new Basseterre High School is erected as soon as possible.”
