Contractor fails to deliver, Orealla school project to be retendered

The Government is preparing to again put the stalled Orealla Secondary School project out to tender, as efforts continue to complete the long-awaited facility.

Education Minister Sonia Parag provided an update on the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) project when questioned by this publication on Friday. “We’re going out to tender very soon in relation to that particular project,” Parag said. She indicated that the Government was hoping to have the process completed as

quickly as possible so that construction could get underway at the earliest opportunity. President Dr Irfaan Ali committed to constructing a secondary school at Orealla during a visit to the riverine community in 2022. By 2023, the Government had begun taking steps to advance the project. During a visit to Orealla, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said a site was being identified for the school and funding was to be catered for through the 2024 budget process. The project was subsequently awarded to 4S Security & Building Enterprise for $198,866,010. Construction commenced on September 2, 2024, while then Education Minister Priya Manickchand turned the sod for the new school five days later. The contractor was given six months to complete the facility.