By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WHILE extensive cleanup and repair work is underway at the Office of the Attorney General, which was substantially damaged during Hurricane Matthew, frustrated employees were unable to work on Monday and sat outside because of the unfit conditions at a temporary office space nearby.

About eight workers were relocated to another office space in the Regent Centre. However, the location lacked proper ventilation and had an unpleasant musty smell.

Several persons were sitting in chairs outside and the office door was propped open when The Tribune stopped by. When asked why they were outside, this newspaper was directed to speak with the senior official inside.

On entering the office, a damp, mouldy smell permeated the area and there was no air-conditioning due to lack of power. The Tribune was told by a senior official to leave the office.

The Attorney General’s Office, which is in the Regent Centre North, sustained extensive roof and water damage from the hurricane. The ceiling had collapsed in some areas. The desks, chairs, carpeting and walls were ruined by rainwater from the storm.

Town and Country Maintenance were called in to clean the premises. The crew was busy removing desks and other damaged materials.

The Tribune spoke with Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville who explained that arrangements have been made at the National Insurance Building to accommodate the displaced staff.

He said the office space to where the workers were relocated is only for the short term, until arrangements can be made for them at NIB.

“Because of Hurricane Matthew a couple facilities that are not government owned, but rented buildings were also damaged, and the AG’s Office is one of those in the Regent Centre,” Mr Darville said.

He said the damage to the AG’s Office was substantial and the landlord has started repairs.

“The landlord is fully aware of the damage and has moved to start repairs, but we had to find an alternative space for the AG’s Office which is in the NIB next to Road Traffic, and that has already been approved,” Dr Darville said.

The former Family Guardian office in the Regent Centre, where the staff was relocated, was only a temporary location, he added.

“It is difficult to find rented space, and when you have a space where you have a leased agreement with the landlord it is challenging.

“It was a temporary location allocated for the short term so we can continue with the affairs of governance while the landlord repairs the building. It is not as simple as finding a new location because a lot of commercial buildings are damaged. The Office of the Attorney General (in Nassau) is fully aware of what is going on and about the temporary location allocated for staff,” he said.

Dr Darville said the landlord has indicated that he will get the building up as quickly as possible.

“There are so many different government related rental facilities that have been impacted that we are asking the staff affiliated with them to go in temporary locations because governance must continue.”

Dr Darville also noted that a couple other government facilities located in rented facilities are facing a similar situation.

“Right now in Eight Mile Rock we are looking at the Post Office and the Administrative Office that also sustained damage, and we had to move the administrator to a temporary location while we go and start repairs to the existing building.”

The nearby Supreme Court building was also severely damaged during the storm.

However, prior to the storm, initial renovation work at the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre had been halted, and equipment left idle on the premises. The centre houses three Magistrate’s Courts and two Supreme Courts.

Dr Darville said that the Ministry of Works has already completed technical assessments and the scope of works so that a new contractor can complete renovations and repairs.

Despite the damage, he said the building is structurally sound.

“Members of the court are working with government until we start to initiate a new contract. But as you can see some of the veneers (the white columns) were blown off that we could not find, but they were not structural; underneath there is structural steel, so the building was never compromised. But yes, the building sustained substantial damage as well,” he said.