Concern over Project timeline for TCI House of Assembly refurbishment

#TurksandCaicos, May 19, 2023 – After nearly 6 years using a makeshift space, the Turks and Caicos will have a fit for purpose Parliamentary building within months according to updates from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development.

“The progress of that work and the schedule for completion is slated for January 2024,” said a PPID representative. He made the revelation during a May 4th sitting of the Appropriations Committee in response to queries from committee member Willin Belliard.

Though the upcoming completion is a welcome announcement, Belliard expressed concern with current progress and whether contractors would actually meet the deadline.

“This appropriations Committee took the opportunity last year to visit the NJS Francis Building and see the progress because we are very concerned— I would encourage your department to keep an eye on this one because the progress is not very encouraging.”

The representative of PPID said, while the concerns were duly noted the building would be on time.

“The delays that were incurred were due to the fact that there was a need for additional funding to cater for scope that was not included in the original contract,” he explained. Those unforeseen expenses included additions to the building like air conditioning and a fire suppressant system. Supplementary budgets had to be drawn up and then approved which took some time.

The House of Assembly is convened currently at the HJ Robinson High School in Grand Turk as the country is still without a designated Parliamentary building following a breakdown in infrastructure and neglected repairs at the NJS Francis Building that eventually led to its closure.

Back in 2016, repairs were scheduled for the building but were not completed and by 2018, the then Ministry of Infrastructure Housing and Planning, had to announce that the building had structural issues and moved to block some areas from public use because they were unsafe. The House of Assembly was relocated to HJ Robinson and has been there since then. Belliard maintained that it was time for the HOA to move back into its permanent home.