What about Steer Town Academy?
Published:Saturday | May 14, 2011 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
The construction of Steer Town Academy was set for completion in order for the school to be opened at the beginning of the school year 2010-2011. The deadline was extended to early 2011. This new date was mentioned at the opening of the Mansfield School by the minister of education in September last year.
Since then, there have been some new and questionable events that have taken place.
1) The new deadline set has passed and the construction of the school is not yet completed.
2) The contract was terminated, as mentioned, for lack of performance by the contractor.
3) The construction had stopped for sometime before the contract was terminated.
4) We have been told that there has been an overrun on the project of millions of dollars.
5) We are yet to be told the reasons for this overrun.
6) Announcement by the minister of education to name a new contractor is not forthcoming.
It is evident that given the amount of work that is left to be done, the school will not be opened for the school year 2011-2012
I use this medium to remind the minister of the hardships being borne by the parents in light of the additional daily expenses incurred for transportation cost to send the children to Mansfield Heights to school.
It is time that we hear the truth about this issue, and I, therefore, call upon the minister to give a full account of the facts surrounding this unsatisfactory situation.
The citizens of St Ann, and particularly those in the constituency of North East, need to know and to know now.
PAUL T.A. STEWART
North East St Ann