Over $55M in contracts have been cleared to furnish the $1 billion Kato Secondary School, in Region Eight, including the student dormitories and the living quarters for teachers.
State Minister Joseph Harmon on Friday announced that Cabinet had given its no-objection to contracts. He also disclosed that the evaluation of the work done on the school, whose cost has been pegged at around $1 billion, has been completed and a report will be sent to Cabinet shortly.
Harmon recalled that Cabinet had mandated the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to do an evaluation of the work done at the school. He said Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has informed Cabinet that the evaluation has been completed and a report will be sent to Cabinet shortly for its consideration.
Nonetheless, Harmon noted that Cabinet has granted its no-objection to contracts totalling over $55M for the delivery and supply of furniture for the students’ dormitories and the teachers’ living quarters.
The school is scheduled to be opened in January, 2016.
Kares Engineering had won the contract for the construction of the school with a bid of $691,972,139, although the original estimate had put construction at $500 million.
In April, the Government Information Agency (GINA) had reported that the school was near completion. Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Eight Ronald Harsawack had previously said that the main structure would cost $780 million but the cost of furnishing, lighting, fencing, and security may take the final figure to around $1 billion.
It has since been revealed that the construction was completed.
