Pull back Wilson's contract & construct new school– Hon Fahie
The District Representative had no reservation in saying that he did not like the tone at which the department was dealing with the situation. “Let me say this bluntly, I do not like the tone that the department dealing with the school...I must admit it because I heard it for myself and we are big people when respect goes through the door we have a problem.”
The meeting of the parents, teachers and administrative staff of the Isabella Morris Primary School was called as an emergency one by the Ministry of Education to address the problem of mould infestation.
The community advocate and former Minister for Education said that at this stage there was no room for finger pointing but all energies should be directed to having the problem fixed for the short, mid and long terms, and that a clear direction should have already been drafted because enough school time has already been lost. “The second thing as sister Gloria said, with no offense to anybody, it’s obvious that the companies here not getting it handled.”
The view was expressed that it might have been the use of some chemical in the building that had resulted in triggering off the problem to a more advance stage and a company, which is already on island, should be hired to deal with the situation in the short term. Hon Fahie said that it was only the day prior that he had told Hon. Walwyn that the long term solution to the problem was to have a new school constructed. He said that there was already a drawn plan which was done, not because of a mould problem but rather because of the fact that the building had already shown evidence of bursting. The Minister rightfully told me we have an economic situation, but that’s a different situation based on what I see. So what I am saying is we can’t build all, we could build some.” said Hon Fahie.
“I told the Minister we could pull back the Wilson contract and one and two other things, they aren't under him, and I going to be fighting because we could only go so far and I did as far as we could.”
Virgin Islands News Online reported on April 29, 2013 that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration is paying a consultant, Winston Cecil Wilson dbs Indigo Engineering Group Caribbean Ltd., almost half a million dollars on the Airport runway expansion project.
Meanwhile, Hon Fahie said there were public meetings and it is now left to complete the bill of quantities among a few other things. “So I urging to get it build for future generations because Isebella Morris is who the school name after. She laboured hard and I am not going to sit down here and let this problem dwindle...”
Hon. Fahie said that if left to dwindle the school will eventually be closed permanently. "The problem will dwindle, dwindle and then you hear the school has to close down then the next thing you’ll hear, well alright we are not going to open it back up we’re going to merge it somewhere else and then Isabella Morris shut down. Things have started here like this and I am not going to sit down and watch it start and not put an end to it quick."
The Opposition Member said that due to the severity of the situation, the entire Ministry of Education should have downed tools and be present at the Isabella Morris Primary School, “as if a hurricane had hit” to address the situation as one of urgency. “We are still getting a lunch-cha-lunch kinda a way coming out of the department and I am not leaving this meeting comfortable that something solid coming out of the meeting."
He made it clear several times during his remarks that at the time he was not fighting Minister Walwyn but rather his fight was for the drawing which was done for the school some time back to be costed and put to bids.
The call was also made for some measures to be taken into consideration to address the health issues of the affected teachers and students as many parents can ill afford to take their children for medical attention because of their financial status, some whom were reportedly being assisted by the Honourable District Representative. “I help as many of them as I could until as old people say, I gall.”
“My tempreture gauge on how the Department of Education has been dealing with the principal and staff is not right. Minister you need to sit down your people and let some of these personnel know that they are not talking at people, they are not talking to people they are talking with people.” He objected to the manner at which an education personnel had spoken to the head teacher.
Like the views expressed by many parents at the meeting, Hon. Fahie said the solution of putting the school at the West End Centre was not an wholesome one as it could not accommodate the full complement of students and teachers. He said that the short term solution would be to have the student population splitted and placed at different schools as the medium and long term solutions are worked out.
This news site had sought confirmation from the communications officer of the Ministry of Education about whether or not the media was invited and was told no, however, Virgin Islands News Online’s presence was due to the insistence of several parents who were determined to have the information of the meeting shared with the public.
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26 Responses to “Pull back Wilson's contract & construct new school– Hon Fahie”
This is a message to all the parents, teachers and staff; do not forget how you have been treated by My...n and the NDP...no concern for your health and safety…
Let we do tis ting next election VOTE THEM OUT …no love for the people
My..n keep using the same company to try to fix this problem although they ain't getting it done. I wonder why? Simple answer...CORRUPTION! Yes in the midst of a crisis just like with the teacher dinner this dude strikes again.
That latest DOC them have in Education need to go up Paraquita Bay in one of them pens them have up there in Argiculture Department. Tis a blasted H*G she is!!! Don't know how to talk to big people but the higher them rise the harder them fall!!!!