According to government, Dr Drexel Glasgow, Director of Projects in the Ministry of Finance, was invited as a speaker at this year’s conference where he presented on “Lessons learned from Procurement of Infrastructure in State of Emergencies”.

“I was honoured to have had the opportunity to present on the BVI’s experience to an audience from countries that are well advanced in their procurement systems. I was particularly proud to present a Case Study on the delivery of the Elmore Stoutt High School,” he related.

Dr. Glasgow reflected that the attendees were very interested and keen to learn on the success of the project. He explained that the procurement method was not standard, however it ensured key procurement principles of transparency, fairness and value for money.

He concluded his presentation with the successes and key lessons learnt from delivering the ESHS L-Shaped Building. He said the school was completed on time and within the allocated budget.

The L-shaped building which was destroyed during the passage of hurricane Irma in 2017, was reopened on September 6 on the second anniversary of the deadly storm.

The repair of the school had been a sore issue for the former National Democratic Party (NDP) administration, who had been criticized by parents, teachers and the wider community for failing to have the school renovated and reopened in a timely manner.

They were upset over students being forced to attend school under a shift system and accused the former Education and Culture Minister, Myron Walwyn, of not making the school a priority.

The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) had also used it on the campaign trail prior to the February polls, erecting a powerful image on a billboard which depicted the conditions of the school post-hurricane . Many residents said the image had hit home.

The VIP has since been praised in an editorial of the (US) Virgin Islands Daily News for making education a priority upon taking up office.