Agreements Signed to Advance Design of HLSCC
The Government of the Virgin Islands has formally launched the design phase for student dormitories at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College after signing a Memorandum of Understanding and Deed of Contribution on April 14. The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency will oversee procurement and project management during the design phase, and the next steps include hiring a design consultant and holding stakeholder consultations. This initiative aims to broaden access to tertiary education across Tortola and the sister islands and supports HLSCC’s move toward four-year degree granting status, the Government said in a press release.
The Government of the Virgin Islands has taken a key step toward expanding tertiary education infrastructure with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Deed of Contribution to support the design of student dormitories at H. The agreements were signed on April 14 during a ceremony at HLSCC’s Learning Resource Centre and formalise the start of the design phase for the proposed residential development at the College’s Paraquita Bay campus, the Government said in a press release from the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports.
Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Honourable Sharie B. de Castro described the project as transformational. “Through this partnership and the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding and Deed of Contribution, we are not simply designing buildings. We are designing opportunity,” she said, adding that the dormitories will create “a home for learning” for students from Tortola and the sister islands so that geography is no longer a barrier to tertiary education.
HLSCC remains the only internationally accredited college within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), a distinction the Minister said carries both pride and responsibility. The College is actively pursuing four-year degree granting status, which would allow it to offer bachelor’s programmes for the first time; the dormitory development is seen as critical to building a more comprehensive campus life to support enrolment growth.
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Dr Natalio Wheatley called the signed agreements a strategic investment in the Territory’s human capital and a foundation for long-term national development. Chair of the HLSCC Board of Governors Dr Sauda Smith described the initiative as pivotal to the College’s capacity and student experience, while HLSCC President Dr Richard Georges said the project advances a key element of the institution’s master plan.
Under the agreements, the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) will manage procurement and project oversight for the design phase. RDA Director of Programme Strategy Kinisha Forbes highlighted the Agency’s record in education infrastructure, noting it has supported more than $26 million in education improvements since 2018, including projects at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (Virgin Gorda), the Jost Van Dyke Multi-Purpose Educational Facility, Elmore Stoutt High School and the Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre.
Next steps include engaging a design consultant and conducting stakeholder consultations to inform the architectural plans for the dormitories, officials said. The Government framed the development as part of broader efforts to strengthen tertiary education infrastructure and position HLSCC as a leading regional institution.
For more information, the Ministry’s Information Officer is Angelique Lettsome: Telephone 1-284-468-9448, Email anlettsome@gov.vg. For international media enquiries contact BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com or call the Government switchboard at 1(284)468-3701, the press release noted. The information above is based on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ official release.
Primary source: BVI Government