GHS, Thomas Saunders to remain at Tarmac until 2026, 2027

A cohort of Girls’ High School (GHS) students will graduate from the institution without ever taking classes at its campus in Richmond Hill.


These students include the daughter of Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves, whose ministry is responsible for repairing the school, whose students have been taking classes at a temporary campus at Arnos Vale since 2021.

Gonsalves told Parliament on Monday that the repair of the GHS is now slated to be completed by May 2026.

Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS), which has been located at Arnos Vale temporarily since 2022, is slated to return to their Richmond Hill campus in January 2027.

The latest update on the school came as Gonsalves responded to questions from East Kingstown MP, Fitz Bramble, who noted that

Budget 2025 allocates money for the rehabilitation of the TSSS and GHS.

Bramble, an opposition legislator, asked Gonsalves to indicate the works that would be done on these two projects this year; the factors, if any, that are delaying the completion of these two projects; and, when the projects can reasonably be expected to be completed.

Gonsalves explained that the original contract for the rehabilitation of GHS included the extension of Grimble Hall and the refurbishment of the Norma Keizer building.

However, it was later determined that the proposed extension of Grimble Hall was not feasible, as the masonry blocks in the 100-year-old building were not structurally sound to withstand the renovation works.

Additionally, most of the wooden elements that made up the interior were severely damaged or rotting.

Gonsalves said the government decided to initiate the redesign of a more functional building to serve better the needs of students and teachers.

In the interim, the contractor completed the renovation of the Norma Keizer building, as per the initial contractual agreement and additional works were also executed on the Coutts building.

He said that after the actual status of the Grimble Hall was established consultations were held with stakeholders with an interest in historical buildings, who were “unwilling to concede that Grimble Hall needed to be demolished and rebuilt…

“And in fact, the impasse was only broken when the teachers themselves wrote the government and said that they were very keen to have Grimble Hall demolished, not only because they considered the current state of the building unsafe, but because the building was no longer functional in terms of the proper flow and the necessary requisites of a modern educational facility.”

He said that a redesign was done for a new Grimble Hall, but it was “so elaborate, beautiful as it was, it was not something that the government could afford to build”.

The designers were sent back to the drawing table, which took more time and construction on the redesigned Grimble Hall is slated to begin this year.

“The project is currently awaiting the no-objection from the Caribbean Development Bank to award the works contract as part of the procurement process,” Gonsalves told Parliament.

He said the works are scheduled to commence promptly after a contract agreement is signed, pending the approval of the central procurement board, once the CDB gives a no-objection.

“The project is expected to last 12 months, with construction projected to begin in June of this year and be completed by May of 2026, Gonsalves said, adding it was premature for him to say who the contractor would be.

TSSS consulting firm facing challenges

TSSS is housed in an expanded complex that was originally the Richmond Hill Primary School. The then 50-year-old elementary school was converted to a secondary school in 2005.

Gonsalves said the construction of the new TSSS was initially scheduled to begin in late 2023.

“A pre-tender structural inspection revealed that the existing building intended for rehabilitation was not structurally sound,” he said, adding that engineers advised the government that it was better to demolish and rebuild than to rehabilitate.

“In 2025, demolition of the original building is scheduled to commence, followed by construction of the redesigned facility.”

The finance minister, however, said that the design consulting firm that was selected has experienced some internal challenges.

“I wouldn’t want to discuss those, but some of us who know some of the challenges that this particular firm has experienced with its unfortunate — some tragedies related to personnel and the like.”

He, however, said that the final tender package is expected to be received from that entity by the end of the first week of May.

“Upon receipt of the final tender package, tender documents will be reviewed and approved by the relevant stakeholders. The procurement procedure for the contractor selection will then proceed with construction, expected to begin by September of 2025,” Gonsalves said.

He said the construction phase is projected to span 12 to 15 months with an anticipated completion date of November of 2026.

“So that in the January term of 2027, essentially, is when the students will be leaving the Arnos Vale campus for Thomas Saunders and returning to the Kingstown campus.”

The minister said he wished that the process was completed sooner, but said that the students were “well accommodated” at their temporary campuses in Arnos Vale.

“My own daughter will complete her academic career without ever going to Girls’ High School — the original facility, and she’s in Grimble House,” the finance minister said.

“But I know she’s very pleased with her accommodations, as are the teachers there, and we endeavour to get them back as soon as possible.

“But there has been no disadvantage infrastructurally or educationally to the students who have attended either the girls’ high school or the Thomas Saunders or the Grammar School in this intervening period.”