HMC serves summons on Hopewell High principal
Published:Tuesday | February 9, 2021 | 12:20 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
The Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) has served a summons on Hopewell High Principal Byron Grant for continued construction being carried out at the school despite a stop order being issued last week for the unauthorised works.
The breaches were discovered last week following an tense stand-off when HMC officials were locked out of the school and had to seek the police’s help to gain access to the property.
It was discovered that a COVID-19 isolation room and two classrooms were being constructed and extension being made to the guardhouse without the knowledge or approval of the local authority.
Yesterday, Craig Oates, head of the HMC Compliance Department, visited the school to serve the summons. However, the principal was not present, so it was served to acting Vice-Principal Alwin Taylor, the most senior staff member on the compound at the time.
“I am very concerned because we are talking about a significant volume of work. We are talking about change to the original status and structure of buildings and we don’t know if the contractors are certified by the Ministry of Education,” said Oates.
“We were there Wednesday, we went back there Thursday, and we were there Friday,” he added. “On Friday evening, I got information again that work was being done. I went over there incognito and I observed a workman moving about mason work. ... When I called the principal, he told me that he was carrying out work to fill a hole that was left there that he did not want any stray animals to fall into it,” said Oates.
“I pointed out to the principal that a notice had been served on him to cease and desist from doing all work – not some, all,” said Oates, pointing to the violation of the order as reason for serving the summons.
Dr Michelle Pinnock, regional director for the Ministry of Education’s Region 4, told The Gleaner that her technical officers are investigating the situation
“The building was being done. Permission was not had from the Hanover Municipal Corporation. They were given 28 days’ notice to submit the documentation and to stop the building, and we have actually instructed the principal to do so,” she said.
Pinnock said she was aware that the work done on Friday was to block up an area that was left open and not with any intention to breach stop orders given.
She said that going forward, the HMC instructions will be closely followed and that every effort was being made to put all the necessary documentation in place by the deadline.