Concerned | No need to fully evacuate admin complex for repairs, why is it taking 5 years?
By Kamal Haynes, BVI News Staff
Members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition are questioning the recent contract — that will cost taxpayers approximately $1.2 million — for government take a lease out on office spaces at the Cutlass Tower in Road Town.
The lease, which is one of several being done, is to facilitate the temporary relocation of all government offices from the Ralph T O’Neal Administration Building so the said building can undergo rehabilitation works.
However, Opposition legislator and former Works Minister Mark Vanterpool said that the decision to vacate the building completely should have never been made.
With the administration building comprising three separate wings (east, west, central), Vanterpool argued that repairs to the complex could have been done in stages.
“As I knew it in the plans before, the repairs of the complex were going to be designed to repair one wing at a time so the rest of the tenants in the complex wouldn’t have to move,” Vanterpool stated.
“It is big enough that works can happen on the west wing for example – which is mostly unoccupied as BVI Health Services was there before – and fix that wing and then move to the east wing and then the central wing,” he further explained.
He argued that it would have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars if the government took the approach to repair the complex a wing at a time.
No need for full evacuation
The former Works Minister further said he will have to seek an explanation from the developer on why the ‘drastic’ action of fully evacuating the building was taken.
“There is no need in terms of anyone who has any construction and developmental knowledge for a complex of that size to have to move out all of the tenants one time to go and pay huge sums somewhere else to rent for the next five years to cost taxpayers money. For what reason?” Vanterpool questioned.
Length of lease too long
In the meantime, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn also voiced his concern regarding the lease.
He said: “My concern is that I’m wondering if it’s going to take five years to rebuild the complex. We have a major problem if it’s going to take five years.”
“The process should have been shorter, I believe. If the complex is going to be built within a year or two years, why a five-year lease? Only the government can answer that question,” Penn added.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Have to make sure L**e continues to rape the territory, after we vote the VIP out.
but they already explained why the 5 year lease. it was because after the repairs at the complex is concluded and the evacuated offices return, they are expected to continue to use the leased private facilities for other government operations. the rationale was that the space will be needed and it may be difficult to obtain the space as other tenants could be after it. this was essentially explained last week.
I’m really sorry, but others surely must have the same thoughts going through their head regardless of political affiliation……….
I certainly realize the need for opposition in any Government for accountability’s sake, but for the love of God, having this former NDP crew calling out others for spending recklessly (no matter how justified) absolutely makes me nauseous!
Not because you may not like who is saying it make what is being said not true!
We all know that this is a bailout package designed to assist family members. This is the nepotism that the leader of the opposition is referring to
This country is not getting any better. It seems like we’ve gone from “bad to worst” instead of “good to great”
When the NDP was there the MOLD was a problem and they never did anything about it, so it needs to be fixed. Mark needs to HUSH.
How can he open his mouth and say there is no need to fully evacuate the building??? Has he spent any amount of time inside? The place is a death trap. Why leave some employees to inhale environmental hazards while the others get to leave? It’s not always about the dollar Hon. MV. I really wish the ppl of the 4th had voted in LHS. This guy’s time in government is spent.
Maybe, just maybe they want to do it right this time. Unlike your projects
Mark shut your a..ss why you never said that to Myron when you all were paying thousands of dollars for Purcell school instead of fixing the school you should be the last person to speak on the topic of saving tax payers money hush.
So y’all rather the workers stay in the damaged + moldy building while construction is going on so you can have more ppl being sick or maybe a law suit for neglect endangerment,accident etc..come out that bubble an think bout what if it was you been there
Priviatetization of public purse right out in the open.
I am not talking about who bad from who good…they all bad and good but this is wht I am saying..why don’t the bvi gov instead of spending so much money on rented space not just now but very long time now why not use the same money to build 2 buildings on the both parking lot ,build them touching the original building both sides change the layout of the ground and the entrance and exit would be in the front…build the building’s 4 levels high and the ground level would still be the parking space the 3 would be office space to hold most if not all the government offices that is in rented space and they would not have to spend on rent that is what need to be done think about all who need to think….and at nights all the government vehicles should park in the parking until morning and not driving up and down for personal use then taxpayers have to pay to fix service before time…
Remember I just saying.
The Hon Vanterpool may have a point. The Ralph T. O’neal Admin Building have three wings so the repair work (plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, carpentry (rough and finish) flooring, ceiling, wall covering and mold remediation) can be done in phases one wing at a time. Even if each wing does not have a its own air conditioning system, a temporary portable unit can be used to provide cooling. This may be more economical than leasing. Does the proposed lease say up to five years? If no, the lease is too long. The building can be constructed in less time than that.
I don’t think anybody should be in that building now, much less while it is being repaired. Government has to show concern for public officers’ health. Mold and other pollutions can do irreversible damage to ones health. Hon. Fahie is right to evacuate the building.
After 8 years, Mark still has not finished the parking lot west of the road town ferry terminal. By now, it should have been bulkhead all the way up close to the ferry terminal wharf.
Instead he was busy feeding the voters garbage and taking them for granted.