Seven contracts were signed last Wednesday for the reconstruction of the Christ Church Secondary School, in Georgetown. The school was destroyed by fire on January 12, 2023. The displaced school children have since been accommodated at the Cyril Potter College of Education.
The new structure, which will cost a total of $688.1M will be built at the same location and is expected to be finished in seven months as per the contract.
The new building will measure 209 feet x 70 feet and will have 20 classrooms to accommodate 450 to 520 students. The school is also expected to feature all the science laboratories, TVET laboratory, electrical and Woodworking laboratory, Information Technology laboratory, Home Economics laboratory, and Art and Music rooms.
According to Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand, the project was divided into seven lots and companies were invited to bid for each lot. The invitation for bids was published in March 2023. Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services is the project Consultant
The new building will feature fire prevention and retardant mechanisms and components such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and some materials that will be used that are not highly flammable.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Alfred King pointed out among the seven lots which the project has been divided into, there is a dedicated lot that deals with the installation of fire prevention units as recommended by the Guyana Fire Service.
During the 3-year-old Irfaan Ali government seven schools were destroyed by fire.
The seven lots and companies awarded are as follows:
Lot -1 Construction of Sub-Structure – BM Property Investment Inc. ($303,595,000.00)
Lot -2 Super-Structure – Zeco Group of Services Inc. ($295,137,706.00)
Lot -3 Installation of Electrical Infrastructure & Fixtures – N. Balgobin & Sons Contracting Service & Electrical Supplies ($41,938,500.00)
Lot -4 Installation of Plumbing Infrastructure and Fixtures – BM Property Investment Inc. ($17,600,000.00)
Lot -5 Installation of Air Conditioning Infrastructure and Units – A. Ograsein & Sons General Contracting ($10,745,000.00)
Lot -6 Installation of Fire Prevention Units – A. Ograsein & Sons General Contracting ($6,759,000.00)
Lot -7 Masonry and Finishing Work – Pantheon Construction Inc. ($12,385,800.00)
