Repairs Set To End For 23 Winston-Damaged Schools

Of the 166 schools damaged during the devastating monster storm Tropical Cyclone Winston in February 2016, 143 schools have been rebuilt.

The rebuilding of the remaining 23 schools will be completed by July this year.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted this while answering a question asked by SODELPA Member of Parliament Ro Teimumu Kepa on Monday night.

Ro Teimumu had asked what Government would do differently after evidence of major defects in post- cyclone Winston 2016 reconstruction of schools such QVS in Tailevu and St John’s College, Cawaci, to ensure standards complied with the National Building Code.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum revealed that all the schools which had been built by Government’s construction unit with stood cyclones which formed after TC Winston.

In the case of Queen Victoria School and St John’s, these schools were not built by Government but were adopted by overseas partners.

Indonesia adopted QVS while the United States adopted St John’s College. Australia adopted schools on Koro Island while Vanuabalavu schools were adopted by New Zealand.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Government learnt lessons that even though overseas partners may wish to assist in construction etc in the future, Government would ensure that all construction ad- heres to local building codes and had proper cyclone certification.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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