We are expecting to complete Admin Complex in 2026/2027, Rymer says
Completion of the Ralph T O’Neal Central Administration Complex is now expected in 2026 or 2027, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said on Tuesday, citing ongoing redesign work and logistical delays.
“As we are aware, the Admin Complex has been down for quite some time,” Rymer stated during the Virgin Islands Voice programme. “In 2019, we had the initial engagement for the roof membrane. We did the skylight replacement. But due to the different departments emerging back in 2020, [this] led to some delays with the demolition works.”
Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 caused severe damage to the complex, which left several government departments displaced for years. According to Rymer, the evolving government structure further stalled renovation efforts.
“Back in 2023, we then had some emergence of some new ministries, hence we had to work on changing the design for the number of departments that would be taking up space in the complex,” he said.
Rymer said the government has so far committed approximately $10 million towards contracts and purchase orders, with some $8 million already expended. “We have the contracts for the covering for the exterior cladding of the building. We have the driveway on the western side. We have the drainage. We have the basement doors and shutters to be done,” he listed.
Responding to a caller’s concerns about the state of the basement, Rymer noted, “I know you mentioned the basement. You said there were rats in the basement. I haven’t been there, so I cannot confirm that. But what I can assure you is that we have signed a contract for mould remediation for the basement and the complex, and those works should begin in mid-May.”
The minister indicated that exterior works are near completion, with “about 98%” done and awaiting the final installation of an elevator. He said tendering has begun for long-lead items such as chillers, generators, fire pumps and electrical mains.
“The design for the interior for the complex, we are about maybe 60% complete with those works,” Rymer added. He said the final design work, including lights, tiles, ceiling panels, and colour schemes, is expected to be finished by June.
As for the overall completion of the project, Rymer said: “We are expecting that this work would be done in 2026, 2027, based on the designs that would fit in and complete the inside of the RT O’Neal Administration Complex.”
Government officials indicated previously that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the complex should be ready for reoccupation by July 2025.
The upgraded facility is expected to include 19 office spaces, a functional area for the facilities management department, and two customer service centres. Funding for the project has been allocated from the government’s $100 million loan with FirstCaribbean International Bank, which was secured to finance key infrastructure projects.
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Yeah! right!…Just in time for election
You guys will never move back in as long as it benefits you all and your friends and associates to keep renting privately. I can’t wait for the next COI into these private rental agreements and the extortionate rents you guys are paying out there. Government has less employees than it did when it occupied the complex so you are talking froth about having to redesign to accommodate new ministries. Stop taking people for fouls!!!!
Everything under Kye Rymer has been a failure. Water is a failure. Roads is a failure. Traffic turn around is a failure. The market square project is a failure. The road by the governor’s residence is a failure. Economic zone a failure and a waste of taxpayers money. Admin complex is a failure. What could be taking that building this long to be repaired. You could have built two more admin complexes in that time. Is this a ploy to keep renting buildings from family and friends?
At this rate, by the time the building reaches the end of its useful life, it will have spent more time vacant than occupied. Ten years post Irma they say it will be open. Wow….
How much has been spent fixing it? How much rent has govt paid while admin bldg has been out of commission? Talk about a white elephant….
Go VI.
9 years to fix a building.
Looks like the VI is in the right hands.
The road debacle in Hodges Creek is not the way to build our infrastructure either.
Need to cancel that airport project now!!
It took 3 yrs to build and 10 yrs to rebuild, SHAMEFUL!
10yrs to repair
This is embarrassing. You guys should have kept this buried deep in the most remote part of your brain. In my opinion government don’t want the Admin building finished, because some of their families and croonies buildings will be empty. Oh No “we can’t have that’.
10 years on one building but yall talking about independence
Asphalted the road around the old international motors a week ago potholes have already reappeared pathetic.
eyes are wide open but not seeing. They will awakenone day to find their conditions far less than in 1949-50.
From the results of the last election to the swearing in of the current leaders have been a grave mistake, a horrible error by the electorate, which created the path way to the VI demise, and an opening for the UK to flex its authority by placing in leadreship position the weakest link in the chain.
Indeed, it has long since been clear that the demise of Fahie was not just his doing, but as an opportunity by outside forces to cripple the nations path to self dtermination.
So the civil servants will receive their shiny new building and the balance on their increments in 2027.
“voting has consequences”
BUT YOU SOUND LIKE A POET FOR A MOMENT AND THEN THEN YOU CHANGE YOUR TUNE ) AS IF THE UK WAS LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE OR A SCASPEGOAT % AND THE NOTORIOUS DREW , GAVE THEM THE KEY TO STOP FROM SELF DETERMINATION ~ ARE YOU FIR REAL ❓️ KING ANDY DON’T OWN THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND HE’S ONLY ONE MAN ~ WHICH MYHEY ALREADY HAVE / SO WHATEVER OTHER ESCUSE CAN THEY USE TO STOP US FROM ” SELF DETERMINATION ” THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS DISCOVERED BY THE ( COI) WHICH WAS BEGGED FOR AN INDIGENOUS BVISLANDER , SO HOW CAN YOU POINT YOUR FINGERS ELSE WHERE / IF OUR HANDS ARE SO CLEAN / THEN THE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOREVER ■ WE DON’T HAVE PRECIOUS STONES OF MINERALS ETC , THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL WITH CORRUPTION OVER THERE SO WHATS SO SPECIAL ABOUT OUR OWN CORRUPTION HERE THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO INHERIT ❓️ ) WE NEED TO STOP THIS RACIST DRAMA EXCUSE TO HIDE OUR GUILT / THERE MANY PEOPLE WITH ( INTEGRITY ) TO TAKE THE COUNTRY UPWARDS / LIKE MR LAVITY STOUTT DID / STAND UP
AND BE COUNTED / NO FAKES OR PRETENDERS ~ WELCOMED