According to Dr Wheatley, there were two pre-fabricated buildings contained within those plans.

Any component of a building that is manufactured in a factory before arrival and installation at the building site is considered to be ‘pre-fabricated’. With this in mind, the Education Minister said that once he evaluated the pre-fabricated buildings and considered what happened during hurricanes Irma and Maria, a decision was made not to go with the pre-fabricated buildings since it was clear what hurricanes would do to them.

“So those were not appropriate to be considered,” Dr Wheatley said during a virtual public meeting last week.

Another building — which the minister said was the only one that had detailed schematics and that was submitted to the Town and Country Planning Department — was designed to house an auditorium and cafeteria.

But Dr Wheatley said that the ESHS redevelopment project is not at a phase where it is considering an auditorium or cafeteria.

The design for this building, Dr Wheatley said, contained ‘quite a lot of glass’ and it was assessed that it would not be the best option to have designs full of glass, considering what took place with hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Former Education Minister Myron Walwyn had recently proposed that the government use the previous plans in place for the high school with adjustments wherever necessary.

At the time, Walwyn said politicians must choose saving taxpayers’ resources over political expediency.