Regulatory agencies silent on construction of Mae’s school building on Subryanville playfield

Oct 08, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Residents of Subryanville, Georgetown continue to raise concerns about the silence surrounding the illegal construction of the Mae’s School’s on the neighbourhood playground.

Since losing its main campus in Subryanville to a fire last March, the school has been occupying sections of the Eastern end of Farnum Playfield to house its operations and even moved to erect a prefab structure on the playfield.

The move has been much to the annoyance of residents of Subryanville, who complained about illegal construction on the open playfield. Residents have been calling for a cease-and-desist order to be issued to stop the ongoing construction highlighting the lack of consultation and permits in the process.

The residents have since threatened legal action to prevent the construction of a prefab building for the Mae’s School on the Playfield.

Elisabeth Deane-Hughes, a resident and member of the group, pointed to a number of other issues associated with the construction. She said that these include child endangerment as Mae’s is having school on an active unregulated construction site with welding ongoing. Additionally, Deane-Hughes pointed out an alleged unauthorised   electrical feed from the burnt site to the construction site. She also questioned whether the school has relevant certificate to operate following the fire.

Attorney and resident of Subryanville, Jamela Ali SC, in a letter to the editor, outlined her contentions regarding the construction.

Ali called out regulatory agencies such including the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and the Ministries of Housing & Water, Education, Public Works (Electrical) and Labour for not responding to enquiries from residents on the issue.

According to the lawyer, residents are concerned about a number of breaches including whether approval was given for prefab structures; whether Mae’s Schools were licensed for 2024 and 2025; whether they are satisfied with children being on an active construction site with materials strewn all over and with vehicles driving on the ground; whether the electrical supply and hanging wires attached to a tree have been approved; and whether all health and safety standards are observed.

Further highlighting several infractions, she raised contentions about the regulatory roles of M&CC and CH&PA in the granting of building permits. Notwithstanding their current construction, the lawyer said it appears that M&CC and CH&PA have now received a plan for a six-story building.

“Residents have requested from CHPA, the mayor and relevant bodies to be informed and consulted before any application is considered. Residents have not been informed,” Ali said.

She noted too that the main issue the M&CC, City Engineer, CHPA, Ministry of Education, and Environmental Agency must consider is that Subryanville is a residential community with restrictive covenants listed on the transports, stating that no business must be carried on.

In this regard, the lawyer held that past illegal conduct cannot be used as a precedent. “Previous wrongs must be corrected,” she said, adding that it is imperative that the M&CC and City Engineer carry out their statutory duties and ensure the Georgetown Building and Planning laws are complied with.

Ali stressed “CHPA must adhere to the fact that Subryanville is zoned residential with restrictive title covenants. There must be compliance with by-laws on boundaries and other matters. The rights of residents and the need to maintain the value of their properties must not be cast aside and ignored.”

The lawyer is particularly concerned about that building and other laws could be breached and the regulatory authorities could neglect their duties and obligations with impunity, all to the detriment of citizens.

According to Ali, community grounds or similar open spaces must not be used to support businesses on a permanent basis, whether for parking, to build structures or to be used for paid services to the prejudice of citizens.

She asserted, “It would be difficult to argue that four categories of schools for private fee-paying are not for business. The effects of businesses, be they schools, hotels or other businesses, which involve the presence of a large number of persons in a small residential community, include the creation of vehicular chaos, inconsiderate parking, blocking of driveways, entrances and access roads, littering, noise nuisance, creation of one-way streets and extension of buildings which obstruct the line of sight, increasing foreseeable dangers of accidents of vehicles and pedestrians exiting onto the main road…”

The lawyer noted that this sets a precedent for breaches by others. This blatant disregard of laws is compounded when the said M&CC, CHPA and relevant bodies refuse to disclose information and documents to residents, displaying a lack of transparency.

Ms. Ali noted that the conversion of green space is contrary to the presidents’ stated policy of biodiversity, promoting and developing green spaces.

“It is encouraging that he has recently reiterated this policy,” she said.

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• Farnum Playfield, Mae’s school building, prefab, Regulatory agencies, Subryanville playfield

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