Dispute Erupts in Subryanville Over School’s Use of Community Ground
Jayda Jeune |HGP Nightly News.
A dispute has erupted in Subryanville over the erection of temporary prefabricated buildings on the Farnum Ground to house students of Mae’s Private School, which was destroyed by fire in March.
Residents allege that school owner David Sugrim breached agreements with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) by constructing the buildings without proper authorization. The council had initially granted permission for the erection of tents only, valid from March 2025 to March 2026.
One resident said:
“The issue as we speak is the challenge between what we gave him as against what he did at present.”
Mayor Alfred Mentor has since admitted that Sugrim acted unilaterally, clarifying that no approval was granted for prefab buildings.
“We didn’t approve that. We approved a situation where he could have the school under tents, not prefab arrangements,” Mentor stated.
Residents have demanded legal action, arguing they were never consulted before the council approved the school’s use of the community ground. The mayor has apologized for the lack of engagement but has instructed Sugrim to submit a formal application to the M&CC and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for retroactive approval.
Several prefab buildings have already been erected, with more under construction. Mentor, however, struck a conciliatory tone, saying a “win-win solution” is needed:
“Whatever punishment we impose will fall on the kids. Their education must come first.”
Despite this, residents remain unconvinced, arguing that the move represents a violation of public trust and disregard for community spaces. Meanwhile, Sugrim is preparing a separate application to rebuild a permanent facility on the school’s original site.
