Lewis aggrieved that Matthew kept him out of the loop on relocation plans for primary school

MP Richard Lewis is expressing shock that a site has been selected for the
new Five Islands Primary School, as promises to keep him informed clearly
have not been kept.

Education Minister Darryl Matthew recently announced that the location of
the new education facility has been decided.

The school – to be constructed at a cost of US$5 million – is to be located just
across the street from the university campus and the site reportedly has been
surveyed already.

The move will accommodate the expansion of The University of the West
Indies – Five Islands campus into the space the current primary school
occupies.

All the architectural drawings for the new school have been completed and
the deadline for submission of tenders for construction has passed, Matthew
reported.

Accordingly, the minister says, all the documentation and bids are now with
the Tenders Board, which, he is confident, will render its decision shortly and
award the contract.

Lewis is the parliamentary representative for the Rural West constituency in
which the school is located.

He is surprised that – after only two public consultations, which were poorly
attended, and without follow-up information – the Ministry of Education is
moving full speed ahead with it plans and did not update him first.

Lewis says that Minister Matthew had agreed that his input was vital; and he
had promised that the Opposition MP would be kept informed about the
Ministry’s plans, as this project is a major undertaking in the constituency.
The representative says he would have served as a buffer between the
Government and the constituents, updating residents on what is expected to
take place and addressing any of their concerns.

Accordingly, MP Lewis says he is upset that he was not updated as promised –
and he accuses the education minister of lying through his teeth when he says
that he, Lewis, is against the project.

Rather, he will continue to fight and stand firm for the people, Lewis says, and
he will not be discredited by political maneuverings.

MP for St. John’s Rural West Richard Lewis.