The site for the further development and completion of the Alwyn Allison Primary School at West End was turned over on Monday this week, February 5, to the contractor, Wilson Reid of South Hill. This followed the signing of the building contract in the Chief Minister’s Office late last week by officials from the Ministries of Education and Infrastructure and the contractor.

The signing ceremony at the Chief Minister’s Office

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Rodney Rey, said that the school-building project was conceived in 2001. Funding for its implementation then was estimated at EC$1,000,345. Contributions were expected from the Department for International Development (DFID) in London, the Anguilla Government and the West End/Long Bay community.

All phases of the project should have been completed by January 2003, but the project is now four years behind schedule with only the first phase, funded by DFID and the Anguilla Government, completed. Part of the delay was occasioned by the shortage of contractors and the community is still raising its contribution of $435,000.

The signing ceremony at the Chief Minister’s Office

“Through the generous contribution of Viceroy Properties, we are now able to finance both the second and third phases of the project without the contribution from the community at this time,” Mr. Rey reported. “We are going to be determining how the community can use the funds they have raised already and will continue to raise for additions to the project. The US$1,000,000 contributed by Viceroy will be dedicated solely to the completion of the entire project.

“Our aim in the Ministry of Education is to build a modern state-of-the-art school and community centre for the West End/Long Bay residents in particular and the people of Anguilla in general.”

One of the two current sections of the Alwyn Allison School

Project Manager from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Nigel Connor, said the two phases would include an administrative block to accommodate the principal’s office, staff room and a multi-purpose room; a kindergarten/pre-school library, auditorium, music room, kitchen and cistern. Some demolishing of the existing structures will be undertaken to facilitate the new work.

He said that one of the challenges of the construction work would be the need for caution as children and teachers would be attending school. He gave the assurance that their safety would be taken into account. He gave the cost of the building contract as being $844,555 for labour only. Reid will construct the building but plumbing and electrical works will be sub-contracted. The project, which is expected to last for 18 months, will be supervised by the Department of Infrastructure. The actual completion date is August 4, 2008.

Mr. Connor noted that health, safety and dust control were among the main matters which the contractor was being requested to keep in mind and that good cooperation and communication were required during the project.

No representative of Viceroy was present at the signing ceremony. Rey said the company was very busy at its development site at Barnes Bay and that some of its key executives were overseas.

Minister of Education, Evans Rogers, said the Government and people of Anguilla were privileged not only to have received US$1,000,000 from KOR/Viceroy for the completion of the school at West End, but also the promise of another million dollars for a new school at Island Harbour. He mentioned the anticipated-gift of school buses.

“This is what a good corporate citizen should be like. I thank KOR and Viceroy for their donations. They are indeed stakeholders and partners in the economic, social and cultural development of Anguilla,” Mr. Rogers stated. “They have also contributed $250,000 towards the establishment and operation of the Anguilla National Community College. I can only wish KOR and Viceroy every success in their investment in Anguilla – not only from an economic standpoint but also for assisting with the social development of this island…If Anguilla is successful, Viceroy and all the other foreign investment companies will be successful – not only in terns of economics, but social success as well.”

He challenged other foreign developers and the local business community to join in contributing to the overall development of Anguilla.

Principal of the Alwyn Allison School, Art Egel, was delighted that the project was finally coming to fruition. He was grateful to Flag Properties for donating a mobile home to serve as a temporary office for him during the construction period and for putting in place, with the assistance of Junie Fleming and Albert Douglas, an access road on land owned by family members at West End. He was also grateful to Albert Hughes, the Elected Representative for the district, for his hard work and behind-the-scene-support for the project.

The contract was signed by Rodney Rey, Nigel Connor and Wilson Reid.

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