By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE scope of works to be done on the grass overgrown University of the West Indies (UWI) Debe campus will begin on Friday.

Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training Prof Prakash Persad announced on Thursday, that the scope of works may take a few weeks or less.

In his opening statement at the post-Cabinet media briefing, a smiling Prof Persad said, “It’s good news for Trinidad and Tobago and particularly for people in south Trinidad. After a long hiatus, the UWI Debe campus, work is going to start from tomorrow, I believe on the rehabilitation of this campus.”

He said firstly the scope of works will be done to identify exactly what needed to be done and that would be followed by the actual work.

Prof Persad said it was being done with the vision of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in collaboration with the UWI.

He said scope of works was being conducted so construction can begin smoothly.

Prof Persad said, “The Prime Minister is very keen on having the campus open for the benefit of students in south Trinidad and for the economy in south also…There is not much we can say, until they determine the scope of works, we can’t say what it is.”

On May 20, Prof Persad toured the UWI Debe campus along with other government officials and UWI officials.

He had told AZP News prior to the tour, “The intention is to have it open but we need to know the state of it now and how much repair etc is needed.”

That same week, Persad-Bissessar maintained the campus will be refurbished and opened to students as soon as possible, having been allowed to deteriorate over the years that the previous administration was in office.