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
Clarence Pilgrim
