In an announcement during the budget debate in parliament yesterday, the Works Minister, Maria Browne, outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at transforming public buildings and the government vehicle fleet into sustainable and cost-efficient assets.
Addressing the parliament, Minister Browne emphasized the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility by keeping new rentals and contracts at an all-time low.
She revealed that the government spends approximately $30 million per annum on rentals for public buildings, prompting the need for a long-term solution to curb expenditure.
“We’ve been doing a pretty good job at keeping costs down, but it’s time for us to be in a better place,” Minister Browne asserted.
Highlighting the government’s forward-looking vision, the Works Minister introduced the concept of the “Government Building Park,” slated to be constructed at the corner of Factory Road and American Road.
The project is anticipated to kick off later in 2024, extending into 2025 after thorough consultations and renderings are completed.
The purpose of the Government Building Park is to provide safe and pleasing work environments for government staff across all ministries.
Minister Browne expressed concerns about existing issues such as mold, non-functional windows, tiles popping up, and poor air conditioning units in the current rented facilities.
The new initiative aims to eliminate these problems and create a conducive working atmosphere for government employees.
“As we embark on this project, our focus is not only on cost savings but also on providing our staff with safe and pleasing work environments. No more compromised conditions – it’s time for a positive change,” Minister Browne declared.
Moreover, the government has committed to making these new government buildings environmentally friendly.
Minister Browne explained that the buildings would incorporate green technologies, including the use of solar panels for energy.
This aligns with the broader commitment to sustainability, as the minister hinted at converting the government vehicle fleet into environmentally friendly vehicles (EFVs) over time.
“As we move forward, we will be making our vehicles green too. All new government vehicles will be converted into green vehicles, utilizing technologies like solar energy to reduce our carbon footprint,” Minister Browne stated.
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Interesting, will this new area be government owned and financed?
Can some one ask Minister Brown a few questions like
1. What is the budget for this proposed government complex?
2. Are preliminary drawings done, and if so by who?
3 How will this project be financed?
4. Will there be a transparent design competition to allow local architects the opportunity to be creative, or will they simply get the Syrians or Chinese to design and build it like the present government complex or the basketball complex at knuckle block and the clinics at villa and glanvilles etc. ?
5 Will this government truly try to reduce the monthly rent bill or is this just another political gimmick much like the pie in the sky hotel projects that Lenox “Einstein” Weston brag and boasted about?
6. When will the Minister engage her senior staff ( apart from the PS and Director) at the MoW to understand what their challenges are with a view of addressing the many issues that leaves them demoralized, frustrated and unmotivated?
7. What is the role and function of the Minister of State in the MoW?
8. How does the Mister plan on cleaning up the huge mess left by the former PS ( Amb Clarence Pligrim) who it is alleged….
9. What concrete plans does the Minister have for tackling the disastrous roads in Antigua, and can these designs plans and specs, that make up the project documents be shared with the public?
10. And finally, will the government quarries be modernized to increase the production efficiency, accountability and security to ensure that the country receives maximum benefits from this critical operation?
11. When will the government get the block plant at Blackburn ( around the Sir Viv Stadium) commissioned and operational?
12. There are many issues at the government concrete plant that begs the intervention of the Minister to reduce losses and increase efficiency and productivity. Is this a matter of concern to her, and if so, what is being done or planned to fix the myriad of problems there?
These are the twelve questions of Christmas fro the Minister of Works. Let’s pray that she does better that Weston for the good of our country. He was found wanting and sent packing; leaving the people suffering. We the people want better and deserve much better.
You will have to wait until her husband stops all his travelling as she is minister in name only. He controls everything. She is just a front.
Another pie in the sky, or maby it’s another creative enrichment scheme like the palm tree fiasco friars hill road.
but it is important to mention that 85% ($26 mil) of gov. annual rental expenditure goes to Antigua smallest ethnic group.
A new government building that valued at 15 million will be priced at 30 million for ubdisclosed reasons that might be.
We are getting a loan from an undisclosed individual!
More wasteful spending to justify steeling the peoples money.
$405k to buy and plant palm 🌴 trees, now they want another 15mil to build government building.
Give me a bloody break. We the tax paying public demands that some of all this wasteful spending should go towards doing an independent Audit on you’ll ass.
I for one would be very interested to see the findings of that Audit, because some of you’ll asses going to jail.
Time to move on from this failed experiment 🥼 called Gatson Browne and CO.
*undisclosed
Maria Mariaaaaaaa!!!!
Oh please. Pixie doesn’t look like she thinks for herself. Here we go again. Another borrowing upcoming to add to the in excess of 100 already outstanding loans.
What a dunce controls our finances! In these hard economic times, are the current government buildings beyond repair?
Please. Not the Chinese. We have seen what happens to their structures after a few years.
Don’t believe a word this ALP band of brigands say.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOO!!!
More wanton waste of our tax paying dollars.
With the need for more housing, better roads, and a fully functioning nation-wide water system, how can Maria ‘Nepo Baby’ Browne justify this?
She’s under qualified for such an important government position.
Ask yourself this: if she wasn’t married to the Prime Minister would she have been given this job?
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER…
They like to build because therein lies the diversion to their pockets.
Tell me something that this government has actually built with their money since in power. A lot of empty chatter. And the loans pilling up.
It’s a good idea for the government to not have to rent and to correct the working conditions for the civil servants. Exactly how to go about that I will leave to others to debate.
Minister Bird-Brown, why are you planting palm trees along Friar’s Hill Road? What about sidewalks! When the road construction started, we were told that sidewalks, of the same quality found in developed countries, would be constructed too. Well, there are still sections of that road without sidewalks, yet you’re bringing in palm trees? And is there a possibility that the palm trees will decrease the amount of space for pedestrians?
You and your co-workers in parliament are clearly oblivious to ordinary life of the average citizen. And imagine what it must be like for people on crutches or people pushing babies in prams! Not everyone has a vehicle all the time.
Plus, we must encourage more exercise in the population. Walking is a free means of exercise. But with your disregard for pedestrians, and failure to improve infrastructure, you have robbed people of the right to walk safely in this country.
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