Present at the meeting were:
All members of the Q/C Board of Governors including Mr. Ron Ali; the Q.C. Headmistress, Mrs. Roberts: the Assistant Head Mistress. Also present were key members of the QCOSA, Mr. Laurie Lewis and Conrad Plummer; the Architect (assisting the Board) Mr. Field-Ridley. Also in attendance were approximately 40 visiting members of the various Alumni Chapters from Canada, USA, England.

Previously, in September 1999, at a meeting called by Neil Jackman of the New York Chapter and held in Manhattan, New York, the new President Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, when confronted had stated that: The government would allocate funds to rebuild the school to its former state prior to the fire which occurred in 1997.

The visiting alumni members had high expectations of having a positive update as to the status of the Rehab Program. As the discussions progressed we realized that this was not to be. We anticipated completed detailed drawings with a cost estimate for the project; however we discovered that the design was still in the conceptual stage as no consultant selected as yet.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ronald Ali who asked Mr. Field-Ridley, the architect, to give a presentation on the separate conceptual designs he had prepared. Mr. Wilton Nedd, from the Washington Chapter, Mr. Neil Jackman from the NY Chapter and also all other members of the visiting Alumni asked a number of questions with regards to the two concepts which were answered by Mr. Field-Ridley.

Questions were asked with regards to the project cost. It was disclosed that the plan was to spend $350 million (Guy) and to do the construction in phases over the next five years.

Also, $50 million (Guy) was already allocated by the Guyana government to the project to be used in the fiscal year 2000; and if for some unforeseen reasons the money was not utilized in 2000; then this money would be forfeited to the project.

Once the Design Consultant was selected, Mr. Field-Ridley was of the opinion that it would take six weeks to complete the "final design drawings". Also that application to the city of Georgetown for a building permit will take two weeks and tendering and award of the contract to a contractor will take three weeks; hence this allows for a potential construction start date of September 25, 2000.

Albert Ramprasad, suggested that two scenarios be considered for the overall construction schedules: (a) A three year plan, and (b) A five year plan.

Also, a copy of the Detailed Drawings be sent to the various Chapters’ Presidents when completed. Leyland Muss added that he would like to have a construction cost estimate be dispatched too when it was available. Both Mr. Ronald Ali and Mr. Laurie Lewis agreed to expedite this request.

Generally, it appears that the project was slow in getting started.

There was a good exchange of question and answers which revealed important facts on the project. Mr. Field-Ridley was of the opinion that the detailed design could be done in six weeks, a view which was not shared by the visiting alumni.