A total of five bids were submitted for the reconstruction of the L-Shaped building at the Elmore Stoutt High School.

According to the Ministry of Education, the technical and financial proposals for the tender document were advertised locally and regionally and five submissions were opened on January 30. Four bids were submitted from local companies and one from St. Lucia.

The Technical Evaluation Committee met February 4 and 5 to evaluate the bids submitted and make recommendations for approval by the Caribbean Development Bank, (CDB). Once approval is granted from the CDB, the recommendation will be sent to Cabinet for final approval.

The restoration of the L-Shaped building at the Elmore Stoutt High School is also included in the Caribbean Development Bank Loan Package.   

The Ministry of Education and Culture will be working with the Ministry of Finance/Project Unit to complete the process required before work can begin. 

The successful construction company selected to construct the school building must complete the following procedures before works can begin:

1. Contract must be drafted and forwarded to the Attorney General for legal advice/comments
2. Contract must be signed by Premier of the Virgin Islands
3. Contract must be signed by Contractor
4. Contract must be notarised
5. Contract will be registered at the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands
6. And an established date for commencement of work.

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Finance/Projects Unit have been working vigorously to finalise the process and have the building completed for the 2019-2020 school year.  It is expected that restoration work will commence before the end of March 2019.