Gov’t looks to reduce $8.9M office rent

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has pledged to find ways of increasing the government’s revenues and is looking at reducing the government’s office space rental expenses as one way of doing this.

“While on one hand, we are looking at ways to increase the government’s revenues, we are also committed to reducing expenditure. Monies that are saved can be channelled into development work,” Premier Wheatley said during the budget speech. “One expense we would like to reduce is the rent that is paid to accommodate government offices.”

The Premier reflected on the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria on the BVI’s infrastructure, particularly the toll it took on government buildings such as the Central Administration Complex, which previously served as the main office to hundreds of government workers.

Government offices that were affected had to be relocated to whatever property was left intact or available after the hurricanes, increasing the government’s rent bill.

But Premier Wheatley said even before the hurricanes, some public buildings had been allowed to become unfit for occupancy, and alternative facilities had to be rented as a result of this.

“For us to reduce the $8.9 million spent annually on renting office space, we must prioritise the repair, renovation and, where necessary, reconstruction of government buildings,” Dr Wheatley said.

He said the government has already done this on the sister islands of Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.”

Premier Wheatley said more than $3 million has been allocated to advance the restoration and renovation of the Ralph T O’Neal Central Administration Complex and work is being pushed along to complete the construction. Dr Wheatley said this is in order for the staff of the ministries to be returned to the government-owned building.

The Premier further shared that some $8.92 million has been allocated for the construction of the Halls of Justice building, and $4.6 million for the fit-for-purpose building for the Department for Disaster Management and the Emergency Operations Centre.

He added that funds have also been allocated for renovations to the Water and Sewerage Building, Public Works Building, and the fire stations at Road Town, Virgin Gorda and other fire stations throughout the territory so that those workers can have more comfortable accommodation.