The third phase of repair works on the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC), Virgin Gorda, commenced on May 26, just 25 days after the contract was signed to Quality Construction Limited. 

The $1.7 million dollar project includes the complete restoration of Blocks 2 and 4 of the centre: internal refurbishment and roof replacement for Blocks 2 and 4, provision of 11 classrooms, a science laboratory, IT laboratory, art room, library, staff and bathroom facilities; and repairs on the administration building.   

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley said that it has been a long awaited journey and he is pleased that works have begun.

“It’s taken some time to get here and I’m certainly happy to be here. We are looking forward to finishing the project on time and on budget which I know Mr. Roy Garraway will deliver for us.”

Students and teachers of BFEC have been displaced since the destruction of the school due to the 2017 hurricanes.  Moreover, students and teachers are currently home engaging in online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the Government is continuing to fulfil its mandate of recovering all public schools in the Territory.

Ninth District Representative and Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent Wheatley, said that during an online conversation with several students of BFEC, they noted that after the pandemic is over they would like to have the option to physically go to school while still having the option for online learning.

“Another thing that they said to me was, although the online learning is good, they are not getting the technical subjects done. So we have to make sure that we create spaces here [at BFEC]. I would like to have the project completed as quickly as possible to get our students back to the new regular,” Honourable Wheatley said.

At the project commencement ceremony, Chief Executive Officer for Quality Construction Limited, Mr. Roy Garraway said, “Having worked on the L-shaped Building (renamed L. Adorothy Turnbull Building) at the Elmore Stoutt High School and seeing the fruits of my labour, not financially but through the social impact, has inspired me even more to complete this project on time, within budget and of good quality.”

In addition to repair works on the building, Mr. Garraway gifted six laptops to students of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre.

The project is a collaboration between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA).

Phase One of the reconstruction process included the immediate repairs to the temporary classrooms and teacher facilities while Phase Two included repairs to Block 1 (12 classrooms, playground and related infrastructure) and was implemented by UNITE BVI and Cable and Wirelesss Charitable Foundation.

 The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture will continue to seek to provide the best learning environment for students across the Territory.

Photo 1: Repair works being done on the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC)

Photo 2: Government Officials visiting work site of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC)