Announcing the Cabinet decision at a press conference at the Ministry of Education Towers, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia announced Ricardo Vasquez as the new chairman, along with members Clyde Permell, Dean Burgen, Cedric Neptune, Marvin Gonzales and Imamuddin Baksh.
Vasquez, who previously served as deputy chairman, Permell and Burgen were included from the former board.
“This new board has been carefully selected,” Garcia said, although he noted there could be additions since the EFCL by-laws allow for a maximum of 13 people on the board.
Following informal discussions with Vasquez, Garcia said both entities agreed to have “a very close relationship going forward.”
However he admitted, “There are some areas we need to tighten because there were some challenges we experienced over the last few months and we are hoping to overcome those challenges.”
Among the areas which need urgent priority attention, Garcia said, was the operation between the board and the executive management team. He said it is hoped all of these challenges could be “smoothened out so we can move forward.”
He denied mounting public pressure and calls by the Opposition for an investigation into the EFCL’s operations had played a part in the decision.
Asked if Piggott or other former board members could face the courts in relation to allegations of impropriety, Garcia said, “I don’t want to ascribe any blame or misdeeds to the former chairman. An audit is taking place and in a few weeks’ time we will have those findings. At this point, I can say no more.”
Piggott’s resignation, which took effect on June 2, was reportedly motivated due to “family commitments requiring greater attention at home and abroad.”
Declaring their unwillingness to allow the spectre of schools being closed for extended periods as a result of simple reasons, Garcia said while some may need to close in order to effectively carry out repairs, it was a practice the ministry “frowned upon” as delays resulted in the loss of quality teaching and learning time.
He said a new system will be introduced whereby emergency measures will be triggered if a school had to be closed for a long period. He also assured the tendering process for contractors to carry out repairs and refurbishment will be done in an expeditious manner.
With 141 primary and secondary schools flagged for urgent repairs during the upcoming July/August vacation, Garcia boasted that all schools had reopened on schedule during the last five terms - a feat he claimed had not been achieved in decades past.
Meanwhile, ten schools in various stages of construction have been identified as requiring urgent attention and a similar programme to assess and upgrade these facilities will also be done simultaneously, he said.
Although the previous EFCL board was criticised for failing to appear before the Joint Select Committee earlier this week, Garcia said he was not aware who was required to attend the session. However, Vasquez assured they will attend the next session if they are summoned.
Commending the new chairman for accepting the offer to serve, Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr. Lovell Francis said it was a difficult job Vasquez was stepping into.
Vasquez later assured the ministers that the new board is committed to ensuring efficiency and excellence in sphere of school repairs, upgrades and construction.
