Freelance Correspondent
Pupils in Palmiste Village, Central, may get a new school before the end of 2024. The Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation restarted the demolition of the burnt-out shell of the school on Thursday.
The Palmiste Government Primary School was gutted by fire on December 7, 2023. Since then, the corporation has been assisting the ministry with the demolition. Chairman Ryan Rampersad said in the last six months, there has been some bureaucracy to get permission to demolish the dilapidated structure.
However, Rampersad said a deeper problem exists at the site. He said the facility has now become a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can spread dengue.
“There are a number of confirmed cases (of dengue) in this community, and the residents have reached out to us. It is in our best interest to get the demolition done ASAP.”
Rampersad said 31 per cent of reported dengue cases in T&T come from County Caroni. “Two-thirds of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo region falls in the County of Caroni.”
He said spraying was limited by the Insector Vector Control Division in Caroni because of a lack of equipment. He said Insect Vector has one malfunctioning spraying device and should have at least three such devices to work efficiently. “We have been told that they have been pooling resources from other counties.”
Rampersad said it was imperative that the building be demolished and the debris be repurposed. The rubble and steel beams from the building will be used to fix landslides in the region, he added.
He said work was being done with volunteers.
“We want to get the school demolished. The Ministry of Education indicated that once the demolition is done, they would be willing to come in and do a prefab building, and hopefully we could get the children of Palmiste back to school in their own community at present that have to go to other communities.”
After the fire at the school was split, and classes are being held at the Edinburgh 500 Community Centre and the Longdenville Government School. Rampersad said this was costly for parents.