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Government Expenditure on Office Retrofits Revealed in Internal Memo
A memo has surfaced detailing the extensive costs incurred by the Ministry of Works for retrofitting various office spaces, including one owned by the son of Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
The building in question, housing the Development Control Authority, underwent significant renovations to accommodate the Ministry of Housing, Lands, and Urban Renewal.
The memo, signed by a Permanent Secretary, sheds light on the expenses incurred during the retrofitting process.
The initial contract for the refurbishment was valued at $852,834.03, covering a 5,814.523 sq ft area.
However, due to additional scope and negotiations, a 30% reduction was applied for retrofitting a second building, resulting in savings of $255,850.21.
The renovations included gutting the superstructure, constructing offices and bathrooms, installing plumbing, electrical, and lighting systems, furnishing, tiling, replacing windows and doors, and installing central and split AC units, among other enhancements.
In addition to the building retrofit, an adjacent parcel of land was developed into a parking lot, with an estimated value of $150,000. This brought the total expenditure for the entire project, including furnishings, to $852,834.04.
The memo also outlines costs for retrofitting other offices and spaces, such as the Cannabis Authority on Friars Hill Road ($875,932.66), Social Transformation Renovations ($682,054.46), ECCA Headquarters at Coolidge (approximately $687,389.00), and refurbishment at Barrymore Hotel ($2,481,954.35).
This revelation comes amidst growing scrutiny over government spending and transparency, raising questions about the allocation of public funds for such projects.
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Without Prejudice
Review of Contract to Retrofit Office Space Located on Friars Hill Road, to accommodate the Ministry Of Housing, Lands and Urban Renewal, under the stewardship of Permanent Secretary Ambassador Clarence Pilgrim and Former Minister Lennox Weston.
In 2021 the Ministry of Works engaged a contractor to retrofit and furnish a property on Friars Hill Road to accommodate the Ministry of Housing, Lands, and Urban Renewal. Initially, the property was not suitable for immediate use, necessitating significant renovations. The decision to use this space was made by the Permanent Secretary and Senior Officers of the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Urban Renewal, during a period of staff unrest and calls from the ABPSA to have them urgently relocated from the Ministry of Agriculture building near Country Pond.
The renovation involved:
• Gutting the superstructure
• Constructing offices and bathrooms
• Ceiling installation
• installation of Plumbing, electrical, and lighting
• Furnishing
• Tiling
• Replacing windows and doors
• Installing central and split AC units
• Painting
The initial contract, valued at $852,834.03 for a 5,814.523 sq ft area, was based on a quantity survey by the Ministry of Works. Before completing the first building, a 30% reduction was agreed to for the retrofitting the second building, housing the Ministry of Housing, Lands, and Urban Renewal headquarters and a section of the Development Control Authority. This additional scope, valued at $450,000.00 was completed within the savings from the negotiated discount, totaling $255,850.21.
An adjacent parcel of land vested in the crown was developed into a parking lot, alongside other enhancements, with a $150,000 value.
Overall, the retrofitting extended to 8,278.523 sq ft of office space, with the breakdown being:
• Original contract: $852,834.03
• Reduction savings (30%): $255,850.21
• Completion of building 1: $596,983.83
• Completion of Building 2 and parking lot (parking lot belongs to crown): $255,850.21
• Total expenditure: $852,834.04 (furnishings included)
Cost for retrofitting other Offices and Spaces:
• Cannabis Authority on Friars Hill Road: $875,932.66
• Social Transformation Renovations: $682,054.46
• ECCA Headquarters at Coolidge: approximately $687, 389.00
• Refurbishment at Barrymore Hotel: $2,481,954.35
Sincerely,
………………………………….
Permanent Secretary
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WIOC
The Board Comprises Seven Directors Drawn From Our Three Shareholders:
The Government of Antigua & Barbuda
Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA)
Fancy Bridge Limited
The chairman is Raul Licausi who also serves as Venezuela’s Ambassador to CARICOM and together with Maria Colemnares, are the directors representing PDVSA.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s representatives are: Hilroy Humphreys, Abena St. Luce, Maria Browne and Wayne Martin, while the directors representing Fancy Bridge Limited, are Xu Weiqian and Lan Yu.
They meet regularly to review and discuss reports and strategic objectives and ensure the highest quality governance in the affairs of the West Indies Oil Company.
Yet, they can’t find any money to pay performers and musicians dating back to 2019. In addition to everything else, there is a growing bad mindedness that is ruling this country.
This practice by the government did not begin with the #Brownes[Gaston & Family]. In order, for this practice, of government spending millions(probably billions) on retrofitting private properties while those owned, by the government become inhabitable is #DEEP_ROOTED in Our system of managing public funds.
The Brownes[Gaston & Family] is simply taking advantage, of the loop holes in the system.
Until, the People demand better management of the public purse, all those in the know, as in all politicians on both sides of the isles will continue to play with the People’s money like it’s their Private Bank Accounts, 401K’s and other retirement accounts.
I do believe, that the #individual(s) or group which help to clean this mess up will be killed, ASSASSINATED forthwith.
Richard Lewis is #Shadow_Boxing 🥊🥊 looking, at himself in the full length mirror, dreaming of being the next leader of the UPP, and possibly the next Prime Minster, of the Nation. He’s talking a good game. He’s making some moves; but, when the pot simmers, he’ll be dipping his bread 🥖 in the same #Gravy_Train, and enjoying the free meals and other perks, as well.
George Orwell should’ve predicted, that a 9.0 Earthquake would #Shake_Rattle_N_Roll, open up the heavens like a grave and bury all of these politicians #WHO’RE crooks!
It can take me too! At least, future generations will pay more attention to being of service to the People, instead of serving themselves.
By The Way, the Earth’s Crust through its tectonic plates which surround Our Nations, in the Caribbean are already #SHAKING and #RATTLING, but I n I want them to #ROLL! #ROLL! #ROLL! With Tsunamis and avalanches, just #ROLL and steam roll us all for a #BRAND new start.
To those #who’re scared of dying, #WELCOME to LIFE. They go hand in glove!
WELCOME to the OK_CHURCH. We preach a TSUNAMIS and AVALANCES not Fire and Brimstone. I’ll take mine which ever way, the Essence of Nature’s Ether brings it!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Please don’t talk about no assassination, as if killing starts, no one will be safe. Both sides of the political divide have their potential assassins.
@ Refurbishment
The PM once said that the best way to steal money was through construction? Who were the contractors engaged in all these projects?
Government can FIND money to pay for supplies relating to GB and his family while poor people suffer.
Is BABA the contractor on all these contracts? School children would like to know. You wicked set a people.
There’s where the lootings happen….. Construction Construction Construction; HE said it,not me.
My genuine concern in all of this is the signal that it sends to others. As the country’s leader, the Prime Minister should take a hands off and a distance approach to this even if it is just because of the appearance. It is too close for comfort and sends a daunting and negative message. Again where are our institutions that should oversee and monitor these things in order to prevent the obvious appearance of conflict of interest? This can’t be right!
I am trying to follow what you have written. What signal? Gaston Browne is unrestrained in all of his actions.
He said he and his Cabinet members and presumably others close to them should be creative in enriching themselves. That’s not a signal. That is an announcement.
Then The Prime Minister should take a hand off and a distance approach. That statement is more than laughable. How can a kleptomaniacs take a hand off approach?
Your last statement begs an VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. Where are our institutions that oversee and monitor these things?
ANSWER: There are no such institutions. Let’s assume Gaston and his family has followed the laws. And let’s agree that this transaction looks and smells bad and deserves to be investigated.
There is no such mechanism other than An Inquiry which would have to be ordered by Rodney Williams. He serves at the pleasure of Gaston Browne.
Should Rodney Williams be so naive to order an inquiry; he would be out of the Governor Generals role before the ink on the paper dries.
The system is deliberately set up for politicians to steal. Why do so many slick and inexperienced vying to be politicians?
You are right. It can’t be right. Those who can make it right are in bed with the politicians feeding at pork barrel. The Church leaders who pray with the poor on Sundays and Saturdays and pray over the politicians on Tuesday at cabinet meetings were these deals are signed off.
This all goes to show that radical changes are needed to stop this blatant cronyism; nepotism; and self-enrichment.
Gaston Browne has always shown that he is as much use to Antigua & Barbuda as a Woodpecker with a RUBBER BEAK!
HOW LONG CAN ANTIGUANS PUT UP WITH THIS MISUSE OF FUNDS?
COME ON ABLP GET RID … GASSSSSTON IS TAKING THE P%#S!
THE TIME HAS COME, NO MORE TALKING. TEK UP BOKKLE, STONE, ANYTHING TO MOVE THIS IDIOT AND HIS CLOWNS FROM OFFICE. WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR? THIS DUDE IS MOCKING US PEOPLE. ALL INDIGENOUS ANTIGUANS, TIME TO TAKE A STAND. NOW NOW NOW.
ANR
The headline of this article should be corrected.
Barrymore Hotel expenses exceed 2 million dollars
Bla bla Bla
WIOC is a publicly traded company listed in the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange. As such, shareholders can file actions against it if they deem the company to be mismanaged. Not saying it is all, but the mode of divestiture of its assets must be brought into close scrutiny and were the shareholders cheated in anyway. Did they get value for money. If it wasn’t a publicly traded entity at the time, did the people of Antigua get value for money as the majority owners?
Also, the self dealing is palpable, Son own Asset, wife and step mother leased and upgraded and Ministry of finance where the father is the head provided the money.
Which universe is that right???
Antiguans did not learn a lesson from the Swiss Bank failure.
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