A Penal contractor levies on the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL) after the state enterprise fails to pay just over $1 million in arrears for works done to schools more than six years ago.
GM Transport Limited, of 42 Rochard Road in Penal, moved in on Thursday and seized desk, chairs and other equipment of EFCL, located at 78 Long Circular Road in Maraval, after it was in breach of four contracts worth $1.01 million plus Value Added Tax.
EFCL Chief Executive Officer Philip Knaggs said he had no comment to make when contacted by AZPNews.com.
And the state company’s chairman Ricardo Vasquez referred AZPNews.com to the Ministry of Education.
In response to questions by AZPNews.com, Education Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said, “The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance are aware of the situation and are in discussions about a final resolution of the issues surrounding the debt profile of EFCL.”
Court documents seen by AZPNews.com showed that the arrears were for repair works done by GM Transport to a number of schools including the Claxton Bay AC Primary School, the Siparia Road Presbyterian School, the South Oropouche Government Primary School and the Pointe-a-Pierre Special School.
On its website, EFCL stated it plays a key supporting role in the achievement of the Ministry of Education’s strategic goals and objectives:
- Project Management Services for the National School Construction Programme;
- Project Management Services for the National School Repair and Maintenance Programme;
- Coordination of the Furnishing and Outfitting Programme; and
- The supply and delivery of Textbooks under the Annual Textbook Rental Programme
Editor’s note: This article has been updated from its original one to add the comments of the Minister of Education.
