Cabinet confirms ASPS to be demolished and rebuilt

The government has confirmed through a post-meeting Cabinet decision issued earlier this week that it will demolish the Althea Scatliffe Primary School (ASPS) and build a new structure in its place.

The educational institution was shuttered abruptly back in June after a structural analysis of the school found that the building was unsafe for occupancy due to issues of structural integrity. It has since been determined that students of the school will be dispersed among various other school campuses across Tortola.

Works Minister Kye Rymer previously noted that the government was awaiting a decision on the cost of tearing down the structure, but this figure was not provided in the Cabinet release.

The Cabinet release noted that the Financial Secretary is now expected to assign a Board of Condemnation for the demolition of the building. 

Cabinet also approved the purchase of three 40-foot containers for $24,000 to be used for storage of materials salvaged from the building. 

“The engineers, they decided that it’s not safe, so we are going through the process. I think we are waiting on actually [the] Public Works [Department] right now to be able to give us a bill of quantities to see what it will cost for us to tear it down,” Rymer stated last month. 

Premier Wheatley previously told residents that the matter of rebuilding the school will be dealt with quickly since it was considered a matter of priority.