23 million internet service for Kato School

Nov 04, 2017 News

A whopping $23 million has been approved by Cabinet for the provision of internet service to the Kato Secondary School. This disclosure was yesterday made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, when he hosted a post Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Based on Harmon’s disclosure, Cabinet has granted no objection for the provision of internet service for the Region Eight [Potaro-Siparuni] school, through the Ministry of Public Telecommunication.
A contract amounting to $23.3 million has been awarded to Imon Wireless Solutions Inc. for the provision of internet service for the Kato Secondary school.
The construction of the Kato Secondary had for a number of years been a controversial subject.
The school was constructed under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration to facilitate those students in the region, who had to travel long distances to access secondary education. However, due to the sub-standard work done by the contractor, the school up to earlier this year was not yet occupied.
The contract for the construction of the school received approval on December 27, 2012 and was reportedly awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to the lowest of four bidders.
The $728.2 million contract was signed on December 31, 2012, with a commencement date of January 21, 2013. The contract provided for a two-year period for defects liability, one year after completion.
However after assuming power, the APNU+AFC government not only demanded that the contractor engage remedial work, but at his expense too. The school was ready to open at the start of the new school year.
But even as he spoke of the new internet development from which the school will benefit, Harmon revealed that it is even farther reaching. He informed that the internet project is in fact part of an ongoing programme to provide internet service to schools across the coastland and in the hinterland.
This service, the Minister of State said, will be provided at secondary schools at Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa, Aishalton, Annai, Paramakatoi, Waramadong, Kwakwani, Mahdia and Bartica.
“These schools in the hinterland are outside of the Government’s e-network reach and requires service providers to connect them by way of broad-band satellite service so that all of these schools will have the same facilities in the hinterland as those that are provided for the schools on the coast,” Harmon said.

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