Kato Secondary under “integrity investigation”

Government says that it has launched an investigation into the integrity of the Kato Secondary School in Region 8, in a bid to ensure that all the facilities are intact and the construction is sound.

Kato Secondary was constructed in a controversial manner which has left many persons questioning the integrity of the structure, despite the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic spending $1B to construct the school.

The opening for the school complex has also been delayed several times.

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand told the House on Thursday that the PPP supports any action for a secondary school in the region since it would mean universal access to education for that area.

She urged that the government take “whatever action is necessary against any defaulting party in the building and construction of the Kato Secondary School.”

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan who was at the time being questioned about the Region’s budget indicated that already government has moved to conduct a review of the facility.

“The administration is engaged in doing an investigation to determine to integrity of the infrastructure…If it’s going to cost $1B, we have to ensure that structurally the building is safe for our school children,” said Bulkan.

Monies budgeted for the review form part of a grand allocation of $36M that is supposed to be for the “completion, construction, extension, and upgrading of schools, facilities and quarters,” within the Region.

Meanwhile, PPP MP Nigel Dharamlall recommended that the Government construct a greenhouse at the school.