THE rebuilding of the dormitory at President's College, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, which was destroyed by a mysterious fire in April this year, is likely to begin in October/November, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Ganga Persaud said yesterday.
He said the rebuilding was originally to have been done by the ministry but due to unavailability of funds, efforts are under way to have it executed under the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP).
The cost of rebuilding the structure was initially pegged at about $47M-$50M but this has now jumped to $70M, officials aid.
Acting Executive Director of SIMAP, Dr. Nandram Persaud, confirmed that his agency was doing preparatory work to submit the requisite documents for funding approval from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
He said the project was being given priority.
Persaud is optimistic about IDB approval for the project, explaining that representation from the “highest level” had been made to the bank.
Estimated losses from the fire were $100M, with the 100 students who were housed there losing all their books, cash, clothing and other valuables.
Several members of staff lost cash, electrical appliances, clothing and other items.
A standby generator worth some $2.5M which was donated by the German Government was also destroyed in the blaze.
President's College was established in 1985 and was the brainchild of the late President of Guyana, Mr. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham who did not live to see it becoming a reality, but intended it to be a premier secondary school to mould students of excellence.