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Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 14, 2018 (SKNIS): Construction of the brand new Basseterre High School (BHS) “must” commence this year, said the Honourable Shawn Richards, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, while speaking at Team Unity People’s Forum on Tuesday, March 13, at the St. Johnston Community Centre.

 

“I am saying here that I don’t expect next year to be coming back to you to say construction hasn’t begun as yet on the new Basseterre High School. Construction must begin this year for that brand new Basseterre High School,” said Minister Richards.

 

The deputy prime minister said that an update was given on the progress thus far.

 

“We have been speaking with the contractor to ensure that as soon as possible you get your brand new Basseterre High School,” he said, while adding that the Honourable Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure, was also a part of the discussion. “The minister of Public Infrastructure can verify that about two weeks ago we got an update from the contractor in terms of where we are with the Basseterre High School. We got an update on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and so we know that progress is being made relative to the construction of the Basseterre High School.”

 

Minister Richards said that it was important to construct a new school as students deserve to be in an environment that is conducive to their learning and health.

 

“You had children attending the Basseterre High Scholl and this government when we recognized that your children were going to facilities that were deemed not to be healthy, we took a decision to close down the Basseterre High School, to end the shift system and to build temporary facilities,” said the minister of Education.

 

The proposed site for the new Basseterre High School is at the southern end of the Basseterre Aquifer situated at Ponds Estate. Officials from the Public Works Department has reassured the general public that the site of the new BHS has been properly assessed and all checks have been carried out to ensure that the environment remains safe.

 

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