The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE College of The Bahamas expects more than $500m to be spent over the next several years to fund construction projects, technological upgrades and infrastructural developments as it expands its capacities upon transitioning to a university.

During a media event yesterday on the progress the college has been making, COB President Dr Rodney Smith said he anticipates a massive growth and expansion of COB to take place within two to three years after the college becomes a university, followed by several more years of fewer, but still significant construction projects.

He did not reveal the expected sources of the funding for the various projects, but he expressed confidence that the institution’s vision will materialise given his communications with prospective donors, many of whom he expects to play a major role in developing the institution after its university transition is completed and it stops functioning like a quasi-government organisation.

He said: “Unfortunately I can’t talk about the donors yet. I could talk about it if they give me permission. We’re going to have to do a lot of work through public private partnerships so…the $500m, that’s the cost, that’s not our pocket costs, that’s the cost of some of these private partnerships.”

Executives at the college beamed as they discussed their plans and the possibilities for the institution.

Among the proposed developments is a planned 1,000-bed New Providence residential hall that will be located at the Oakes Field campus and will cost about $100m.

“In July 2015 we issued a request and proposal for the design, construction, finance and operation of a 1,000-bed dorm facility,” said Ronnie Stevenson, vice-president of operations. “There were four respondents to the RFP and we selected one of them who is currently drafting their plans and preliminary drawings and contracts for our review. It is expected that we will sign a contract within two months and start construction in early 2017.”

A “state-of-the-art” dormitory is also under construction at COB’s northern campus in Grand Bahama.

Other important projects include an art museum and a small island sustainability (SIS) project.

“This SIS project will be a multi-functional, multi-disciplinary building that would help drive the university’s alignment with the country’s national development plan’s goals as it relates to food, water and the environment,” Mr Stevenson said.

Among other developments is a partnership between the college and the Antiquities Monuments & Museums Corporation (AMMC).

Dr Christopher Carey, chair of the School of Social Sciences at COB, said this partnership will aim to accomplish several things, including bringing to COB Harvard professor and noted scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Nonetheless, Dr Smith could not give an exact date for when the University of Bahamas Bill will make its way to Parliament.

He said he hopes it is passed and the transition is completed before the Spring Semester ends.