UPDATE: Backup generator for HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre
President of HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson has given the assurance that the eight associate degree students, their tutors, and others who were forced to endure unfavourable challenges of not having access to the Culinary Arts Centre will once again be in the comfort of their rightful space come Monday April 8, 2013.
In a telephone interview Friday April 5, 2013 Dr Dawson told Virgin Islands News Online that while things will not be fully back in order as it should they are expeditiously working at setting up a back up generator system that will provide electricity to the centre, making it operable again.
A fire had broken out in the main electrical panel room of the centre in December of 2012 cause major damages and had resulted in the total cut off of electricity supply to the building. This had caused the student to be placed in another area where they had to be sharing space with two other subject areas and their practical sessions were allegedly limited- a situation they had deemed unfair.
They had said the school's management was aware of their constraints but nothing was not being done in a timely manner to have the problem rectified.
Dr Dawson said he was confident that had the affected students taken their complaints to the available levels of management they would have gotten the very results as they are now getting consequent of them taking the issue to the media.
"I guess the question would have been to say if this was brought to my attention otherwise would they have gotten the same action. Certainly they would have gotten action. In any case I would still hope that before someone would take the matter externally that they would at least try to exhaust the internal sources because there are several levels of administrators who, yes we were all aware of the fire and the damages and so on, but in terms of the students expressing their concerns we could have been given the opportunity to address it," said Dr Dawson.
In the meantime Dr Dawson said investigations into the fire are continuing.
In addressing the issue of the recent fire that occurred at the Culinary Arts Centre, during the Seventh Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly, Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn acknowledged that the likely cause was electrical in nature.
“Madame Speaker, on December 31st, it was discovered that a fire occurred in the electrical room of the Culinary Arts Centre at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, likely between December 28th and December 30th. The fire, was self-extinguished, Madame Speaker because of the way that particular room is built and was discovered by personnel of the BVI Electricity Corporation after being alerted electronically of an unusual event on the electrical grid in that area,” Hon. Walwyn disclosed.
“Madame Speaker, the fire damaged electrical panels, conduits and wires in the electrical room in addition to an air conditioning unit, which according to the Virgin Islands Government’s Electrical Inspector, appears to be the likely source of the fire. The fire was contained in the electrical room, which impeded its detection but which also ensured that no other part of the building or any equipment outside of the room was damaged. Madame Speaker, the fire resulted in the inability to use the power supply from the BVI Electricity Corporation, thus rendering the building unusable by power through that mode,” said Hon. Walwyn as he responded to the question posed by member of the Third district.
He further stated that to-date the facility has not been repaired as investigations were being conducted relating to the cause of the fire and whether or not the repairs would be covered under the relevant warranty clause for the building. “While that matter has not been fully settled Madame Speaker, a claim has been made to the College’s insurer with a view to making the facility operational once again. An initial estimate of the cost to repair has been made at $45,000.00. Madame Speaker, to this point in the semester, students have been accommodated in an alternate kitchen facility on the main campus, where they attended classes prior to the opening of the Culinary Arts Centre,” Hon. Walwyn said.
Arrangements have been made for the Culinary Arts Centre to be powered by the existing back-up generator for a few hours a day to allow classes to take place. “Madame Speaker, the College has informed that they are confident that the learning outcomes associated with the culinary courses this semester will be met in spite of the setback,” he also stated.
This news site was previously informed that the college's administration over the past months was conducting investigations into the root cause of the fire as the building was completed and commissioned in the last quarter of 2012 shortly after which the fire broke out. It was said that the investigations were being carried out to determine who was responsible and should be made to foot the cost for repairing the damages.
During the most recent interview with Dr Dawson, he made it clear that at this stage of their investigations they are going through the process as required by insurance and that they are not pointing fingers at no specific individual, company, contractor or anyone else to blame for the incident.
He also noted that the College's administration is aggressively working at completing a strategic plan designed to improve "things" at the college and which they intend to submit to the Board of Director at their scheduled May 14, 2013 sitting. Once approved the strategic plan will take effect at the beginning of the new school year.
See previous article posted on Monday March 25, 2013.
Culinary Arts Centre students displaced while politics play
- Students still relocated since fire in building some two months ago
More than two months after it was constructed and declared officially opened by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, tragedy struck the Culinary Arts Centre of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) and students have since been displaced and discomforted.
In December 2012, a fire broke out in the main electrical room of the building causing severe damages to the main electrical panel and several other components for which, according to sources, an estimate of approximately $45,000 was given to effect repairs. According to information reaching Virgin Islands News Online, it is believed that the fire broke out at an air conditioning unit and quickly swept through to the main electrical panel and caused severe damages to several main cables.
“If that room was as sealed and the fire was not detected as early as it was, the entire centre would have been burnt out,” said a source.
It was explained that since there was no electricity supply to the building, students had to be shifted to another area where they claim does not provide adequate time for their practicals. Some eight students are doing the Associate's Degree Programme in Culinary Arts.
The fire at the Culinary Arts Centre has been kept under a bushel from the general public but is well known by the authorities, contractors and the students who are the ones said to be tasting the bitter end of the stick. According to the students, they are not prepared to sit back any longer with their mouths shut while the authorities play "cat and mouse".
The students are claiming they are being made to share a tiny, unfit classroom space with students of two other subject areas and they are presently not getting the full value for the services they have been paying for as their practical sessions are seriously affected.
“This is not fair at all, we did not want to say anything out before because we understand that they would have needed time to have the problem fixed after the fire but come on after three months they still saying to us they trying to determine who is to be made to fix the problem while we, the paying students are being disenfranchised,” said an obviously distraught student.
Another said that their situation is well known to the management of the school and the Office of the Premier. “This is the very reason that so many of our citizens leave here and go overseas to study, we have excellent tutors here too but we are treated like second class by our own people to the fact that the government hasn’t moved to have the problem fixed and then they can look at charging whoever is directly responsible, tells the whole story, they just putting the cart before the horse,” the student reasoned.
The students claim their plight has been raised at several levels but not actions have been taken “So we think that it is time that the general public know what is going on because when they were dedicating the centre it was all over the media for them to look good, and rightfully so now we are suffering and rightfully so the public needs to know,” said a student.
Contact with President of the HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson and Director of the Culinary Arts Centre Mr Henry Prince, who is also an active chef, confirmed the claims of the students.
Dr Dawson said he is aware of the fire and the damage caused but said he has to launch an investigation into the students’ claims of not getting sufficient practical session time. He as well as Mr Prince explained that the college is still investigating the root cause of the fire. “We are at the stage where we are trying to determine who is responsible and will have to pay the cost to have the problem fixed,” said Dr Dawson. Mr Prince’s version was, “We now have to determine if it’s the electricity company or the contractor who has to take on that cost.”
They both also felt that the students should have raised their concerns with management as it regards them not getting sufficient access to practical sessions. According to Mr Prince, “I would be mad if I see this online and you guys do not contact the public relations persons (he provided name and number). Students know that they should go through certain channels when they have complaints, running to the media is not the best thing, and I think I know who is doing this,” he said.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
39 Responses to “UPDATE: Backup generator for HLSCC Culinary Arts Centre”
Good going by the students in bringing the matter to the forefront. An enormous amount of taxpayer dollars was spent for this building. Therefore the public has a right to know whether it is functioning properly or not, only eight students in the program is alarmingly low. Someone needs to be asking the 'public relations' persons and the president want type of campaign they have in place.
Mr. P is a waste, he gets nothing done, in a timely manner. The article sated it's been three months since the fire and he's still trying to fine the cause? Square pegs in wrong holes, this man is a chef so why is he the maintance head of the college? I wish the Goverment could reshuffle most of the department heads because he don't have a clue what's happening outside the kitchen. Mr.P return to the kitchen:)
H...y P...., hush! The students have a right to complain to whoever they choose. Why should the students raise their concerns with management when "management" knows already? Come on, HLSCC. Stop playing games with people. Maybe it is time the whole management get a good overhaul. What is the Board doing about this management? The taxpayers are holding them responsible and above all the students.
Trying to keep this sort of information under wraps is so typical of this government. The public has a RIGHT to know these things.
Every cent taken in by government belongs to the people of the Virgin Islands. Every public building belongs to the people of the Virgin Islands. The quality of education offered and the conditions under which education is offered, impacts and is of concern to the people of the Virgin Islands.
Tell us Mr. Walwyn, would Lavity Stoutt be proud? For 10 years, the people of the Virgin Islands have been waiting for the long promised "state-of-the-art" culinary arts and hospitality training center, as promised by the NDP when they purchased Prospect Reef Resort. We finally get at least the Culinary Arts Center, this happens and government sweeps it under the rug. Give me a break!
If government is going to self insure (like the big boys), then step up to the plate (like the big boys do) and fix this situation a.s.a.p! Get those students back in their proper environment!
Government spent more than 6 million dollars for Prospect Reef Resort (which is sitting deteriorating as we speak) and how many more millions for the new Culinary Art Center? Surely you can find $45,000.00 to get this fixed. If not, SELL PROSPECT REEF TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER a.s.a.p. and get the Culinary Arts Center fixed! Put the balance of the proceeds of the sale towards fixing and upgrading all the schools. The people of the BVI are NOT hoteliers!
How a new place like this catch fire so easily? Another local contractor blunder I bet. No proper oversight then they upset because an overseas firm will be looking over the CDB works. You think CDB stupid? Another expensive blunder for doing $h1t.
the 4th is the capital a$$556!
Yes, it will continue to burn. Unless the wicked, unfair leaders are dealt with, the fires will continue.
Will the Board step up to the plate and do something before the public has to collect the ashes?