Minister Gumbs: Cancelled contracts to be rendered, library, Charles Leopard Bell projects move forward

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs has confirmed that building and demolition permits have been signed and submitted for two major educational infrastructure projects: the Charles Leopold Bell School and the Philipsburg Library.

These developments mark a concrete step forward in the implementation of the Facility for Education Resilience Project (FERP) and the Emergency Recovery Project I (ERP I), funded through the Trust Fund and managed by the World Bank in coordination with the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB).

Minister Gumbs stated that the recent cancellation of the construction contracts awarded to China-based firm Zhenjiang 2 Construction will not delay the projects indefinitely. Instead, the tenders will be reissued, with plans to divide the works into smaller, more manageable lots.

“These projects will be retendered, and I believe they will be broken up into smaller components to improve manageability and oversight,” Gumbs explained. “But let me be clear, our standards will remain. The government is committed to setting and enforcing high-quality benchmarks in all education infrastructure, regardless of who is contracted.”

The Minister emphasized that both local and foreign contractors must meet the same quality expectations, pointing to past errors made by companies of both types during school repair works. “In my school tours, I encountered work done with serious flaws, like newly poured roofs already leaking. That is unacceptable. What matters is not the nationality of the contractor, but the quality and accountability of the work.”

Minister Gumbs did not shy away from addressing the political and public backlash that followed the awarding of the now-cancelled contracts, stating that much of the uproar and comments prior, was rooted in xenophobia and misplaced political posturing.

“There was a lot of noise about who was right or wrong in the contract process,” Gumbs said. “But ultimately, many were wrong. Mobilization was a challenge for several reasons, including the government’s own role and the public sentiment that delayed critical decisions. The uproar over just three contracts, when over ten had already been awarded to local companies, was blown out of proportion. In my opinion, it was a mountain made out of a molehill, and yes, I do believe xenophobia played a role.”

She added, “It’s ironic that some of the loudest critics, many tied to the same political faction, had nothing to say about the now-infamous ‘Pearl of China’ announcement back in 2016. Nobody ever asked where the money went when a local company was involved in that project. That double standard speaks volumes.”

Minister Gumbs reiterated that the origin of a company should not take precedence over its capacity to deliver on time and at a high standard. She said what matters is that the work gets done, and gets done right. Delays and disruptions hurt the children who are still waiting on proper classrooms, functioning facilities, and access to resources.

The Ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) to finalize the necessary documentation and permitting, and the Minister confirmed she is maintaining constant pressure to ensure momentum is not lost.

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