Delays in the construction of the University of the West Indies south campus have nothing to do with money.
So said Pro Vice Chancellor and principal of UWI St Augustine campus, Prof Clement Sankat.
In an interview on Thursday, Sankat said the delays were not occurring because of non-payment of funds.
“This has nothing to do with money. We are not over-budget but we are out of time,” Sankat said.
Despite the slow pace of construction, Sankat remains hopeful that the campus will be ready for the new academic year in September. Already roads leading to the campus have been paved.
The moot court, administration building and law faculty buildings have been completed. The library is in an advanced stage at completion while the student union services building, dormitories with 100 rooms and recreational facilities are almost complete. The car parks have also been paved.
Sankat said he was not satisfied with the pace of construction by the main sub-contractor.
“I don’t want to call names but I am definitely not happy with the pace of works and the performance of the design/build contractor,” Sankat said.
He added, “I am hoping to enrol students in the new semester in September/October if that is possible.”
Saying the construction was a major project built on 150-acres of land, the UWI principal said it will serve as a satellite campus offering a multitude of programmes including degrees in technology and electrical engineering.
“This campus is being built on a green field site on new infrastructure. We have to put in roads, lights, water and sewerage facilities. I have a duty to put people in a safe and comfortable environment. This will be a full service campus,” Sankat said. He noted that the campus will have a cricket field, football facilities and a swimming pool.
“There is an old saying that good things don’t come easily and sometimes you have to be patient but while you are patient you never lose sight of the goal post. You have to work hard. Our objective is clear. We have to finish it and have it ready for the staff and students,” Sankat added. Asked when last he visited the site, Sankat said he visits regularly and receives frequent reports about the pace of construction.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Tertiary Education Fazal Karim said he continues to be concerned about the slow pace of construction.
He said the main contractor China Jiang Su, which was selected through the procurement process, outlined by the UWI St Augustine campus, had an obligation to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
“The project is managed by Acquitas and in the periodic reports that we have received from the project manager, the main contractor was frequently advised to ramp up their human resources so as to complete the project within time and budget under the supervision of the UWI St Augustine campus,” Karim said.
He added that the project was supposed to be completed by January 2016.
“I am hopeful that it will be fully completed before the end of this academic year to allow for the registration and enrolment of students for the 2016/2017 academic year. Many students and particularly those in the central and southern areas are anxiously awaiting the opening of this facility to attend classes, thereby reducing their costs of commuting or renting,” Karim said.
Saying the campus investment has the potential to generate job opportunities and entrepreneurial activities, Karim said it can also boost foreign exchange through international students.