Knockalva Polytechnic College appeals for urgent relief for stranded students, damage to the institution

Chairman of the Board of Management of Knockalva Polytechnic College in Hanover, Anthony Lawrence, is appealing for urgent relief to support the approximately 30 students who remain stranded on campus following Hurricane Melissa, as he says their communities and homes were also devastated by the hurricane, leaving them with nowhere to return.

Lawrence says the college is in critical need of emergency supplies, including food, bedding materials, toiletries, and clean drinking water, as well as the restoration of piped water, electricity, and other basic amenities to sustain students and staff.

He is also appealing for heavy-duty equipment and machinery such as chainsaws, tractors, and loaders to assist with campus clean-up and the removal of debris and damaged structures.

“While the spirit of resilience remains strong among our staff and students, we cannot rebuild alone. We urgently need external support to restore the college’s operations and ensure safety on campus,” he said in a media release on Monday.

Lawrence described the impact of the storm on the institution as heartbreaking and unprecedented, as he appealed for urgent assistance from government agencies, alumni, and private-sector partners to help restore the college to full operation.

“This is the most devastating event in the college’s history,” Lawrence said.

He said the 85-year-old institution, regarded as a flagship centre for agricultural and technical education, suffered catastrophic losses as several major facilities were destroyed or rendered unusable.

He said staff and student living quarters, along with key academic and agricultural buildings, were left roofless or completely flattened by Melissa’s powerful winds.

The college’s teaching aids and instructional resources were also heavily affected.

“Computers, laptops, smartboards, and other digital tools were destroyed or water-damaged when roofs were blown off classrooms and offices.

“Laboratory equipment, stationery, and teaching materials were also lost, dealing a severe setback to the college’s academic and digital learning capacity and disrupting its ability to deliver classes and practical training once operations resume,” said the chairman.

The institution’s historic Great House, which houses administrative offices, sustained severe structural damage, with windows and doors ripped off and the roof torn apart, leaving the building exposed to torrential rains and flooding.

Adding to the crisis, the college remains without piped water or electricity.

Lawrence says efforts to restore temporary power were further hampered when the backup generator failed, and the electricity control room lost its roof and was subsequently flooded.

He added that Knockalva’s farms, which form the backbone of its hands-on training programmes, also sustained severe damage.

“The college reported the loss of 1,600 layers and 1,400 broilers, as well as the destruction of 15 acres of coconut trees and four greenhouses used for crop production.”

Classes have been suspended indefinitely as clean-up and recovery operations begin.

Lawrence noted that immediate efforts are focused on clearing fallen trees, debris, and damaged structures across the sprawling 200-acre campus to make way for restoration teams.

The college, which has a capacity of over 300 resident students and 60 staff members, was recently granted full polytechnic status, transitioning from its historic role as an agricultural high school to a tertiary-level institution.

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