Dear Editor,
Your newspaper article titled ‘Secondary school for Kato progressing,’ in SN of July 3, has stated that a “modern secondary school” is being constructed at Kato, Region 8, at the cost of $25.4 million and will house 350 students when completed.
As an individual with a fair knowledge of the hinterland I find this cost to be extremely low.
Kato is a remote village in the south Pakaraimas which is accessible either by air or by a long and arduous road over the rugged Pakaraima mountains via the Rupununi. Because of its difficulty of access the cost for items are, at the very least, double the price it will cost in Georgetown.
On a general calculation, therefore, the estimate approved for this building should build a similar facility on the coast for around $12.5 million dollars. Has there ever been any facility built on the coast, to house 350 persons, that costs $12.5 million? (A family house costs 12.5 million on the coast.)
Secondary schools, similar to the size being constructed in Kato, constructed on the coast almost always run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. So how come a ‘modern school’ is being built in such a remote location for such a low price?
It is only hoped that the integrity of the structure, and the safety of the children who will be using it when completed, are not being compromised in the interest of construction costs.
Yours faithfully,
M Abraham
