The principal of the Kingstown Government School (KGS) Thedica Commissiong-Jones is elated that her staff and students will be in virtually new conditions as the new school year begins, thanks to an EC$2.997 million project financed by the World Bank, under the Regional Disaster vulnerability reduction program.

The KGS, also known as the Stoney Ground Government School, is one of several schools that have been designated Emergency Shelters, but following an annual inspection around 2016, engineers determined that the roof and other facilities were in dire need of repair and as such was not worthy as an emergency shelter.

This matter was brought to the attention of the relevant authorities and following the requisite evaluation and tender processes, the World Bank funded this and several other bridges and river defense projects to make SVG a safer place to live.

The school refurbishment project, which began on July 15, 2019, was slated to be completed in 12 months, but was delayed for about two months because of bad weather and variations to the original project specifications, the contractors said.

The project, which was done in two phases saw the completion of the Senior Block and new toilet facilities in phase one, while phase two, which includes a cafeteria, store room, counselling room and Junior Block, should be ready in another two weeks, as electrical fittings, painting and paving of the school yard and hard court are now nearing completion.

The project was awarded to Franco Williams Engineering Services and was supervised by officials from the Ministry of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour.

Funding was provided by the International Development Association (The World Bank).

(Report and photos by Donald De Riggs)