APNU, WIN concerned at state of Tabatinga Secondary works
Opposition parties APNU and WIN have expressed concern at the state of construction of the Tabatinga Secondary School.
Following a visit to the site yesterday, APNU MP Sherod Duncan said the school was far from operational readiness.
“Roofing and flooring works were incomplete, key internal finishes remained outstanding, and only four workmen were observed on site. Given the volume of remaining works relative to the time elapsed since commencement, this raises legitimate concerns about project pacing, supervision, and the realism of the stated completion timeline”, he said in a post today on A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) Facebook page.
The $182 million project awarded to QA Civil Works began in October 2024 under an 18-month contract period.
We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) said in a post yesterday on the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page that residents and parents have reported that construction work on the school has significantly slowed.
WIN said that the project was intended to address serious overcrowding at St. Ignatius Secondary School and to provide improved access to quality secondary education for the growing Tabatinga and Lethem communities.
Additionally, WIN said that the access road to the school remains unpaved, causing excessive dust. This road also serves as the main access route to the Rupununi Rodeo Grounds, making it vital for both daily school operations and major national events.
The party called on the authorities to provide an update on the project timeline and reasons for the delay.
During a visit to the school site on November 24, 2024, former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had stressed the need for timely completion of the project.
The contractor, however, cited several challenges that have hindered work, including adverse weather conditions, the complex soil type and difficulties in transporting materials. In response, the minister had reminded him of the terms of his bid, highlighting that he had entered the contract with a clear understanding of both the advantages and disadvantages inherent to the region.
Manickchand had further emphasised that he had bid publicly for the project, and outlined his capabilities of being able to execute the job and it should be done accordingly. She had added that while she was not unsympathetic to his challenges, the conditions in the Rupununi have remained unchanged since his bid, suggesting that he should have been aware of these challenges beforehand. Furthermore, she had pointed out that there were other bidders who offered higher proposals, underscoring the competitive nature of the bidding process and the expectation for contractors to fulfil their commitments effectively.
“It’s not just a project, for you it’s a project for us is to change lives. We are depending on this school. I thought I would be able to see a lot more work. I am not unsympathetic to your challenges but that has to be your problem not ours. You bid publicly… and I’m asking you to stick to your bargain,” she had said.
