City Hall, which has for some time been recognised as structurally unsafe, will be the subject of a project to restore it to its former glory with tenders for a contract that will cost over $600 million recently being opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
According to the particulars of the contract, which the tender documents state is being executed under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, it is estimated that restoring City Hall will cost $630.4 million.
Three companies bid for the contract when the bids were opened a few days ago. Fides Guyana Incorporated, Bulk & Timber Works Incorporated and OM Custom Wood Working & Restoration.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall
Of the three companies, only Bulk and Timber Works submitted a bid under the engineer’s estimate – $465.9 million. Fides Guyana – $754.7 million – and OM Custom Wood Working – $686.4 million, both exceeded the estimate.
In May of this year, Central Government had given City Hall a $30 million injection into the coffers of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. This money was intended to support the construction of an administrative building for that entity.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall had handed over the cheque to Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke. The building will house employees of the Council so that the City Hall building can be restored.
Speaking with the media, Dharamlall noted that Government is looking closely at the proceedings in order to ensure there is accountability for the money as it is expended from the Council’s end.
“In 2019, an initial sum was provided to City Hall of $65 million. That work has gone to the extent where a superstructure has been completed. This is part of Government’s commitment to support the construction of the admin building…City Hall has committed to put an additional $50 million during the course of this year. We expect that the resources are going to be used very wisely.
“We’re hopeful that, by now, the city would have already publicly tendered for this work,” he expressed. It has been announced that another $100 million is promised from the State’s coffers for the restoration of the City Hall building – a historical structure in the heart of Georgetown.
“That is one of the legacy buildings in Georgetown. It is a historic landmark in our country, and it is on the front burner of our Government. The President has been adamant for us to get the City Hall Building restored, and so he has agreed to put $100 million for it as well.”
The Minister added that the Council is still lagging behind in having its financial statements audited, and this is a serious concern for the current Administration. He reported that in the Auditor General’s Report, it is indicated that the local organ body has not been forthcoming with these documents.
After taking office last year, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Government had launched an audit into City Hall, which had targeted both the financial and operational makeup of the municipality.
Calls for transparency come on the heels of reports last year that there was no accountability for the $300 million Restoration Fund which was contributed to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for the restoration of the dilapidated City Hall Building. The structure seems to be falling apart, and some sections have already been labelled unsafe.
