Chief Secretary Farley Augustine Blames PNM’s Foster Cummings for Poor Renovations for SSS, and Central Government’s Failure to Support Construction of New School

PNM General Secretary and Minister of Youth Development, Foster Cummings, was criticised by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine for poor renovation work at Scarborough Secondary School. Speaking at a TPP meeting in Montgomery last night, Augustine claimed that after taking office in 2021 and assessing the school’s condition, he found that the renovations—carried out by a construction company owned by Cummings—were failing. He added that opposing parties are now using the state of the school to criticise the TPP-led THA administration. Augustine also accused Cummings of benefiting from a corrupt contractual arrangement related to the renovation work done on the school. Due to coastal erosion, the school needs to be relocated. A site was selected in Bacolet, and the THA had been working with the Caribbean Development Bank to secure a loan for the construction of a new facility. However, Augustine explained that the THA requires approval from the Finance Minister, who has since discouraged the loan arrangement. Augustine also warned against misinformation being spread on the issue, particularly claims that the THA failed to produce an end-user brief. He asserted that a brief was, in fact, completed with assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank—not the IDB, as some are claiming. He also dismissed suggestions that the THA needed to consult with the Ministry of Education, explaining that such a project falls under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.