Antigua Government to Vacate Ryan Group Building, Relocate Staff After Lockout
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that the government will permanently vacate the Ryan Group building on Old Parham Road and relocate affected staff, following what he described as a “hostile” lockout by the property owner over outstanding rent.
Speaking during his radio programme, the Prime Minister said Cabinet has approved the relocation of public servants to alternative government-owned facilities, including a 20,000-square-foot building in Coolidge, which will be refurbished over the next three weeks.
Temporary accommodation will also be provided in buildings near the Office of the Prime Minister and on St John’s Street.
“We’ve accepted that we’ve been thrown out,” Browne said. “We’ll move on and house our departments in more suitable, government-owned spaces.”
The lockout occurred earlier this week after the Ryan Group reportedly padlocked the premises due to arrears amounting to approximately $8 million.
Browne noted that while the government respects Sir George Ryan, a prominent businessman and landlord, the manner in which the eviction was carried out left no opportunity for negotiation.
“Ordinarily, you send a warning or cut the electricity. But when you padlock the building, that’s not a warning—that’s an eviction,” he said.
The Prime Minister used the occasion to announce a broader policy shift, revealing that the government would accelerate plans to construct a new government office complex on state-owned land.
He criticised longstanding rental arrangements with private landlords as “usurious,” stating that in many cases, the government recoups the full capital value of a building within a few years through rental payments.
“We’re spending close to $50 million annually on rent. That’s unsustainable,” Browne said. “This has happened across successive administrations, and now we must fix it.”
He added that older buildings, including the one owned by the Ryan Group, often lack proper maintenance and pose health concerns for staff, including mold and failing air-conditioning systems.
The Prime Minister also indicated that the Ministry of Finance would conduct a reconciliation of accounts with private landlords, ensuring that any rent owed is adjusted for outstanding taxes.
“This is not about attacking anyone,” Browne said. “But the government has a responsibility to act in the best interest of taxpayers, and that means reducing dependence on private rentals.”
Construction of the new office complex is expected to begin within months.
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Hope u start the adjustment by removing the government offices from your sons building on friars hill road !
Will government transportation be provided for employees when the building is Coolidge is ready?
I hope Ryan locked in every piece of paper in the building until all rent is paid.
So you are saying ECC $8 million and Ryan is saying ECC $12 million. Where is his other $4 million? Did someone left the treasury with it and lost it or got robbed along the way?
You have money to build complex. When will Ryan get what is owed to him? Will he have to engage the courts to get his money?
There is lots of space in the old terminal.building. why haven’t you used it?
Is it more preferable to rent from comrades than to use government buildings?
Does anyone get something for the rental of arrangements?
@man on the sea
And that will never happen!!!
Soooo what about the man’s 8 Million
Building Office Complex very noble!
“ the best way to teef money is in construction “
Watch this space……
“But the government has the responsibility of acting in the best interests of the taxpayers.”
Can someone please denude the PM’s rhetoric. The real truth is hidden under The👺Mask of A Macu.
Mr. PM did your government act in the best interests of the taxpayers during the confirmation, negotiations, auctions and sale of the Alfa Nero? Don’t answer just yet. You need to save your answer for your depositions in US Federal Courts.
This action against the Ryan Group probably means, they will not be paid for years to come. The Ryan Group should be able to hold on to whatever property the government owns inside of their premises, until a settlement is reached through the Courts because this is where this is headed.
Pay the man his damn rent money. He is owed over $8 million in rent. That is a damn shame. He is so correct to throw you all backsides out. It has past the stages for negotiations.
Mr. Ryan hostile for wanting his rent. Some guy bad minded for wanting his money out of the Bank. Only in Antigua.
fact check: At least $126 million in rent, goes to one ethnic group annually!
Well, I never hear or see more injustice inna me life. Mr Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Remember, God is not sleeping. This is injustice. The money you are going to take and build a building to do the people’s business, couldn’t you use that money and pay Mr Ryan them , them them money. Wow, man , You not have no heart Man. A talk bout, negotiations😒.lawrd man. You are a lawyer . You know better‼️ Do better no man. $12 Millon dollars/ 8 millons dollars. If you were paying the rent on time. The people them would have been able to clean their building to prevent mold build up and pay people to do so. A building doesn’t stand pretty and maintain itself. It needs to be cleaned. Just like how you or your wife or a maid has to keep your house clean. A just Mr Ryan them have to pay janitors to keep the place clean. And don’t talk about the electricians to remove lights ,and check the electrical system if the building. And what about the plumbers to check the toilets and drainage of the building? And make sure everything is running smoothly, in that section of the building. And don’t talk about the air-conditioning units to get properly checked every so ofen. And sometimes very often, because air conditioning units does give alit of trouble. Especially in tropical climates. It takes money to perform such maintenances . The Ryan group of companies has to do these things to keep the employees who work in the building comfortable. And imagine the cost that they had to absorb while you, Mr Prime minister refuse to pay the people them. The righteous borrow and pays back the debt. The wicked borrows and doesn’t pay back the debt. Remember that.
I can bet that the space on Friars Hill Road is paid for in full every single month. The government has the responsibility to act in the best interest of taxpayers; some taxpayers., like those who owned the Deluxe Cinema. We need to know what was his take on the deal. The guy should be Investigated.
A how ALP not doing Mr shouls so at the passport office rent for his building which Is 4 times the cost of Ryan building? Is it because he black?