Not appropriate! Gov’t declines previous ‘prefab’ plans for ESHS
Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley has dismissed as ‘inappropriate’, plans that were previously in place for the redevelopment of Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS).
According to Dr Wheatley, there were two pre-fabricated buildings contained within those plans.
Any component of a building that is manufactured in a factory before arrival and installation at the building site is considered to be ‘pre-fabricated’. With this in mind, the Education Minister said that once he evaluated the pre-fabricated buildings and considered what happened during hurricanes Irma and Maria, a decision was made not to go with the pre-fabricated buildings since it was clear what hurricanes would do to them.
“So those were not appropriate to be considered,” Dr Wheatley said during a virtual public meeting last week.
Another building — which the minister said was the only one that had detailed schematics and that was submitted to the Town and Country Planning Department — was designed to house an auditorium and cafeteria.
But Dr Wheatley said that the ESHS redevelopment project is not at a phase where it is considering an auditorium or cafeteria.
The design for this building, Dr Wheatley said, contained ‘quite a lot of glass’ and it was assessed that it would not be the best option to have designs full of glass, considering what took place with hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Former Education Minister Myron Walwyn had recently proposed that the government use the previous plans in place for the high school with adjustments wherever necessary.
At the time, Walwyn said politicians must choose saving taxpayers’ resources over political expediency.
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But Dr Wheatley said that the ESHS redevelopment project is not at a phase where it is considering an auditorium or cafeteria.
WTF? So why even bother? High on the list apart from classroom space should be Library, Auditorium and Cafeteria!! They can even build a large multi-use building that could house all three! You would think these f**king idiots don’t travel and see what the world has to offer the young people. What is wrong with these people?
First off what was the prefab structure constructed out of. See the Belonger is one of the most ignorant and stupid people on the planet. If the prefab structure was made out of poured concrete panels then this would not only be stronger than the poor block work of the locals but it would be more cost effective. Not only that, there are many building systems that are capable of withstanding Cat5 hurricanes but as usual the Belonger prefers to remain in his ignorant ways. Third World forever!! The only REAL issue is that the panels or structure would be constructed outside the Territory and would alleviate the possibility of kickbacks and other shenanigans. Please bring on the COI findings so that all these worthless people are gone.
I do not even need to read neither am I interested in reading anything beyond the second sentence which is incredibly offensive. If you are here in the BVI, I am sure it is practically much easier for you to leave on your own and be gone than for the Belongers who are rightfully in the country of their birth and/or heritage, to do so. Damn outta place.
You know you read that whole ting and you also know it be da truth. You have no argument against what was written. Just like everyone here they say “you don’t like it leave”. We would prefer you squatters leave instead.
concrete panles VS blocks go read a book you are the most ignorant one
I’m glad you found an outlet to relieve all that stress. Still waiting on your work permit, huh? You have my sympathy. BVI Love ❤️.
Is Natalio Wheatley qualified as an engineer? Was there any meaningful discussion with a structural expert before dismissing the idea? Or, is there something else to this story?
You do not have to be an engineer to see what happened to those buildings that NDP put up right before the hurricanes. I am not an engineer but common sense trumps stupidity
yet DELTECH homes all stood up to Katrina and Irma,Marie without morre than a blemish and are all prefab……
Its how they are built if there are no seams on show and no gaps the wind blows round them
now blocks and poured concrete are better but only if done correctly and 5000psi and we know the builders here will skimp and scrape on materials
Is Walwyn?
Mr. Wheatley is right with this one! He must consider what the future Hurricane can do to the buildings, the safety of the children and teachers.
Beside that plan where is the original plan designed by STO Enterprises?
The Virgin Islands (VI) (British) lies in the hurricane belt. It is not if but when the VI will be struct again by a category 5 and more frequently occurring categories of hurricanes, ie, Cat 1 and 2. Monster Cat 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017 devastated the VI, resulting in much displacement and hundred of millions in property damages, viz, residential, business, government facilities(schools, jail, utilities, infrastructure).
Global warming is increasing the frequency and severity of hurricanes. Consequently, the VI must prepare and take actions to mitigate the potential impact of hurricanes.
Hurricanes Irma and Maria created the opportunity to redesign and redevelop the ESHS complex and other schools for the long-term. Why would ESHS be redeveloped without a cafeteria, auditorium, and a gym?
The VI needs a school development master plan. Specifically, ESHS, the flagship public secondary school in the territory, must be designed and constructed structurally sound to withstand at least a cat 3 hurricane. It should be designed with a double purpose/mission. During normal operations, it functions as a school; disaster, rideout shelter.
Moreover, PEB (Pre-Engineered Building) typically, is used for temporary needs. The VI must take moonshots; the window for doing big things is closing rapidly. The VI should be farther along on the progress road than it is, ie, health, education, infrastructure, utilities, roads, economic development and sustainability, environment, etc. Peter Drucker, father of Management: “Doing the right thing is more important than doing the thing right.”
Prudent course of action and make sense to me. But truth be told, I’m not an engineer so I will leave the design to seasoned engineers and the construction experienced contractors.
@ELeonard, I’m confused. What is the difference between doing the right thing and doing thing right? I only went to Manda School but they seem to be the same thing, are they n0t? 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the same.
Simply, Doing the right thing= strategic thinking, effectiveness and Doing things right=Tactical thinking, efficiency. Something cannot be done efficiently (lowest cost, time) yet not effective.
E. Leonard, what is the right thing and how is it recognized
i would humbly suggest that after this phase of the project is completed, serious consideration is given to continue with another l-shaped building adjacent to the existing l-shaped building.
Riteway’s big supermarket at Pasea is pre-fab. It survived the hurricanes didn’t it? I think the excuse by the Minister is illogical. Sometimes we hear pre-fab and think of paper instead of thinking that pre-fab means sections are constructed elsewhere then joined onsite. Could it be that the contractor/s he has in mind cannot install pre-fab so instead of hiring outside he rather use concrete blocks? Not that I have a problem with using local contractors, but if that is the case then just say so. After all, BVI is for us BVIslanders.
Purcell/Free Bottom/Baughers Bay faired better in Irmaria than other parts of the BVI, did they not? Riteway may be prefab but what category storm was it design for?
the late Peter Haycraft, God rest his soul, himself said that he always built his properties to specifications exceeding the building codes. none of his buildings suffered substantive damage after the hurricanes. it helps also that he had a highly capable engineering/contractor as the face of all his construction projects in the person of Mr. Heskith Newton of Newton Construction. we spoke about building better and stronger, but are we? Dion Stoutt said that if another Irma was to hit the BVI, 80% of the buildings would suffer similar or worse damage as during Irma. I am inclined to side with him on that. We need to understand what we will be facing moving forward, and adapt accordingly.
Tick tock, I thought it’s scheduled to be functioning by September 2022. Light years away by the sound of it!
It’s criminal that the kids in the BVI are given such little respect and are denied a real education because decisions just can’t be made in a timely manner.
Before the untimely death of Hon. H.L. Stoutt in 1995, there were plans for the High School. Where are those plans? The plans for the buildings were incomplete… hence the L shaped building on the compound. I suggest we finish the High school based on those plans. There was a Vision for the school. Please complete that vision!
Even so….
How hard is it to change a specification from pre-fab panels to blockwork if that is their preference? So we needed a whole new design to change the walls to blockwork?
Yet we have professionals sitting right there in government waiting for the photo-op.
From top to bottom, bottom to top…..waste of time
Listen that plan Hon. Myron had was for college students not for a high school. I was there in the meeting when they came with that proposed design.
Like Mr. Wheatley said pure glass all over the building.
So I asked what will will happen when a serious hurricane comes God forbid. The architect said the glass is made to take 180 winds.
Now note.
this was all before Irma, and the start of other buildings had commence.
Look what Irma did, twist and fold one building and strip another of it’s top.
And we should continue with the original plan.
Yes we do need to stop play politics and do the right thing.
Again as a educator I am for this new proposed plan.