$323M too much for two schools

THE EDITOR: The disclosure in Parliament by Education Minister Anthony Garcia that taxpayers are paying over $323 million to build two secondary schools is shocking and distressing.

I would like to visit the construction site of the Shiva Boys Hindu College, which is costing over $181 million and the Parvati Girls Hindu College, costing over $141 million, to see these facilities.

These are two more examples of reckless spending and inflated costs associated with the last administration, which has placed the country in its present state of financial difficulty.

What is more troubling is these schools only add to the long list of incomplete projects left by Garcia’s predecessor.

I read that construction of both schools has been suspended due to non-payment of money to contractors so that the Ministry of Education will have to find millions of dollars owed for work already done and also money to complete the projects.

Considering the present prevailing economic conditions, I hope the necessary funds can be sourced to complete these two and several other incomplete schools and also that some system be put in place to prevent such inflated costs to ensure taxpayers get value for money.

RAJENDRA NARINE, Princes Town