MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster said, yesterday, there is some uncertainty surrounding matters pertaining to the building that is under construction and was intended to replace the one currently housing her ministry. Asked for an update on the project, still ongoing at High and Princes Streets, in Georgetown, she would only say that, a long time ago, it was meant to house the ministry, but that changed over time.
In 2008, the new building was progressing well with the work being done to frame curb walls and columns being erected. Concrete for the foundation of the US$3M edifice was also mixed at the site.
Then Minister of Labour, Mr. Manzoor Nadir had said: “We are now looking at the award of the contracts for the electrical aspect and the design for the air-conditioning.”
The intention was to consolidate all the functions of the Human Services and Labour Ministry and staff of the latter had to be shifted to several locations, including offices at Brickdam, North Road and Camp Street.
“People will be better served, there will be comfortable accommodation for persons and, most importantly, there will be a complement of staff in one building,” Nadir had assured.
The objective was to have the place house all departments, among them Probation, Child Care and Protection, Documentation Centre, Pensions, Public Assistance and the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CR&MA.
The decision to construct the building, which is funded by Government, was a result of decentralisation of the ministry’s operation after a fire in 2001.
Currently, the Labour and Human Services and Social Security Ministry remains at Cornhill and Water Streets, although the scheduled deadline for completion of the new accommodation was set for November 2008.