The construction of the new Jost Van Dyke Primary School is set to commence soon after Quality Construction Limited was awarded a contract valuing $4.3 million to construct the long-overdue facility on the sister island.
Chief Executive Officer of Quality Construction Limited Mr. Roy Garraway signed the contract today Thursday, August 25, during a small ceremony to commemorate the occasion.
Director of Procurement at the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) Mr. John Primo revealed that a total of six pre-qualification applicants submitted for the project.
He said, “Six pre-qualification applications were received, one from St. Lucia and five from the British Virgin Islands. And following a rigorous shortlisting process to determine the firm’s capabilities to undertake this project, invitations to tender were issued to three shortlisted firms to submit detailed technical and financial proposals.”
“At the submission deadline, three tenders were received and detailed evaluations were done by a panel of evaluators consisting of members from within the RDA and Ministry of Education. Subsequently, it was determined that Quality Construction Limited was the highest ranked tenderer and the evaluation panel recommended this firm for the award of contract to the value of $4,333,743.86,” he added.
A day of pride and relief
Minister for Education Honourable Sharie de Castro said it was a day of pride and relief on the sister island as the new primary school project is one that has been long awaited.
“We are truly grateful for the many steps and strides that has allowed us to come to this point. To the many partners who would have assisted in ensuring that interim measures were put in place and continue to be put in place for the school to function while we were able to put the requisite procurement steps in place to get to this point. Today we want to give you a heartfelt thank you,” the minister stated.
She added, “We are truly grateful for the many steps and strides that has allowed us to come to this point. To the many partners who would have assisted in ensuring that interim measures were put in place and continue to be put in place for the school to function while we were able to put the requisite procurement steps in place to get to this point. Today we want to give you a heartfelt thank you.”
This project will not stall like many others
Meanwhile, Representative for the Second District Honourable Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull assured the Jost Van Dyke community that the school project is one that will not stall like some of the others that have in the past.
He said, “I remember there was signing for a community center and it never happened. They break ground and had ceremony and food and nothing ever happened. But this time around is about action and it’s about building a school that is going to be efficient and effective to serve the community of Jost Van Dyke. Not just in the school setting, but from a community outreach programme, from a resource centre, it is going to be just that for the people of Jost Van Dyke here in Great Harbour.”
Chief Executive Officer of the RDA Mr. Anthony McMaster assured residents that the school will be completed in time for the September 2023 school year.