Hurricane Beryl school repair bill now at $3 billion

It will now cost more than $3 billion to fund repairs to the 362 schools that were damaged by Hurricane Beryl, Education Minister Fayval Williams has revealed. 

The education ministry had initially given a preliminary figure of $2.7 billion, but at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, Williams divulged that figure has increased as the number of schools needing renovations have also climbed. 

“We have a better assessment now than we did right after the hurricane. So we have to present the case to the Ministry of Finance and the public Service and on our side we have to be efficient with the funds that we have that were already allocated to us, cause we know it's additional burden on the national budget as a result of the hurricane,” she said. 

The ministry categorised affected schools into three priority groups: severely damaged, moderately damaged and those that sustained minor damage.

Williams noted that 107 schools were classified as severely damaged with roofs, ceilings, windows and doors, retaining walls and perimeter fencing, furniture, learning resources, and electrical equipment being destroyed. 

A total of 139 schools were listed as moderately damaged, while 116 schools were described as having minor damage.  

Williams reiterated that repair works on these schools can be done while school is in session.

She also indicated that she does not anticipate much delay in the reopening of schools on September 2 because of ongoing work as contractors are working overtime to ensure completion. 

“We meet more than once per week, and we go through every single school in detail so we understand where every school is. We understand which schools are very comfortable that they will be opened, which schools are saying give us a day or two and so on,” she said. 

She said that principals and board chairs have permission to examine their context and decide when and how to bring students back to schools.

-Sashana Small

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