Thursday, July 26, 2018
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
WITH the Minnis administration hoping to reduce its annual $50m rental commercial property bill, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the former City Market grounds on Market Street will be home to new government offices.
At least three public offices, he said yesterday in Parliament, will be constructed at the site, which is also known as the old St John’s playing field.
The prime minister also said the tender process on bids for the rejuvenation of Southern Recreation Grounds closed on Tuesday.
In short order, he said, work would begin there, adding ground is expected to soon be broken on two smaller parks – Father Marcian Peters Park and McPherson Park.
“I will also advise the public on a project to construct government offices, listen to me carefully now, Opposition Leader, I need you here, I need you here, on a project to construct government offices on Market Street at the old City Market property or as we know the old St John’s playing field,” Dr Minnis said during his contribution to debate on the Economic Empowerment Zone Bill 2018.
“We are spending approximately $50m annually on renting commercial properties and it is our intention to construct there at least three government offices to accommodate offices like immigration, foreign affairs, the passport office, public works and others. But we will put three offices (there).”
Dr Minnis referred to the government’s “terrible” track record for maintaining properties. In view of this, he said, maintenance will be outsourced to the private sector.
“Not only will the people be involved, but the maintenance will be done by the private sector, not government. These new buildings will accommodate three government ministries, private sector office spaces and other facilities.
“This project will be executed by the private sector.
“It will complement the work of the Over-the-Hill initiative, spurring additional economic activity and providing additional employment in this community during construction and for ongoing maintenance,” Dr Minnis said.
Comments
OriginalBey says...
As a fiscal conservative, I support this strategy 100%. Too much revenue air marked for rentals. This is a win all around. Construction jobs, contracts for building and maintenance and beyond the government owning the facilities they generate revenue by leasing some of the space. This is the level of thinking I expect from our political leaders.
Posted 26 July 2018, 11:37 a.m. Suggest removal
Well_mudda_take_sic says...
Why is it Minnis will not reveal who owns the old City Market property on Market Street? And why doesn't Minnis tell us which of his cronies in the private sector will be awarded the lion's share of the construction work and maintenance contracts associated with this property? We know there will be no legitimate tender process for these very large contracts because that's not the dimwitted Doc's style. No indeed, it's certainly not the people's time!
Posted 26 July 2018, 11:42 a.m. Suggest removal
John says...
The old City Market building was purchased years ago under Hubert Ingraham administration. They gutted the building and started to refurbish it. Then the PLP won and the work stopped as the PLP claimed they wanted to make it a two story building. Then the FNM (Ingraham) came back and the building still stood delapidated. And then the PLP came back for five years and still nothing was done. Now Minnis is here and hopefully he will get the building repaired (if the structure is still sound) and finally tax payers can see a return on their money after some twenty years! As for the building on JFK. Next to Paul Adderley building..why is it still unoccupied? Some say furniture problems, others say problems with the structure. But it was started in the PLP’s first year. It cost double what the Paul Adderley building (which also had cost scandals) cost and is still not being utilized. And the building on Blake Road. The PLP was advised NOT to purchase that building (Blake Road) because it was unsuitable for government offices. But they purchased it anyway (apparently to help out a good friend). And after renovations, there it sits, barely utilized.
Posted 26 July 2018, noon Suggest removal
Well_mudda_take_sic says...
Word on the street is the old City Market property was sold to a muck-a-muck with the original intent of being leased back for use as the General Post Office (GPO). But decision was later made to move the GPO to the property on Gladstone Road previously owned by Phil Lightbourn and now owned by another muck-a-muck under a sale-lease back arrangement with government after Lightbourne defaulted on his debt to Bank of the Bahamas (BoB). The BoB debt Lightbourn defaulted on was later transferred to Bahamas Resolve and ultimately acquired by government before being sold under a sale-lease back arrangement with the muck-a-muck who now owns the Gladstone Road property that will house the GPO.
Posted 27 July 2018, 4:46 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
We can nitpick over these projects, but Minnis has the right idea ..... Compared to the past PM
Posted 28 July 2018, 10:36 a.m. Suggest removal
Well_mudda_take_sic says...
For a political leader who promised that it would "the people's time", the dimwitted Doc lends new meaning to "it's all about me and my political friends and cronies".
Posted 28 July 2018, 4:39 p.m. Suggest removal
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