CHAIRMAN of the Implementation Committee of the Mayor and City Council, Mr. Keith Burrowes, has taken note of an article in a section of the media which seeks to create the impression that he is holding up the programmed emergency renovation works on the 100-odd-year-old City Hall, one of the nation’s heritage buildings.

Seeking to set the record straight, Mr. Burrowes, in a recent interview, stated categorically that he is not holding up the spending, as stated in the article.
He recalled that, about one year ago, the Ministry of Local Government had approved an allocation of $20M for  renovation and emergency works at City Hall, and had asked him to overlook the spending of this money.
He, however, said that when this appointment was made, the Council had already spent over $3M of the first disbursement of $5M. Then the project was subsequently delayed because of a rift between the now dismissed Engineer Mr. Erskine and the Social Welfare Committee of the City Council.
Mr. Burrowes stated that, during his first meeting with the Council, he had indicated that the Council should consider doing a comprehensive Engineer’s Estimate, reflecting the total amount needed to renovate City Hall. This position was against the haphazard arrangement wherein the Engineer’s Department had apparently determined how the money would have been spent only after the tranches would have been released. He said that this information would enable the council in its resource mobilisation efforts. Further, they will be able to address the more critical works, if this kind of information is available.
“I further suggested to them that they should get the total cost of the works to be done, and privatise it, so that when government gives money, they will determine the priority areas for spending, as per the Engineer’s Estimate, and so be able to restore the 100-odd-year-old building to the beautiful edifice it once was.”
Mr Burrowes indicated that he believes City Hall is now in a position to do the comprehensive estimate, since the Council has recently engaged a number of civil engineers. He said he therefore looks forward to seeing the plan for the remaining $15M, and indicated that he would provide whatever support is needed to ensure that the additional works are completed within the shortest possible time.
Reiterating that, “It was not Burrowes who is holding up the project,” the Chairman affirmed, “I need to see the estimate for the $20M. I want to be able to clarify how the money is to be spent. I am not holding up the spending.”
He said that even though he was not involved in the first $5M spent, this time around, he would be involved in the spending of the $15M, and he affirmed that it would be mainly for priority renovation works. “They need to let me know that these works are priority,” he said.
Burrowes said he is happy that a team of external persons has been approached to help with the project. He recalled that, three years ago, he had made a proposal that the Committee should also look at external donors that provide funding for buildings mainly considered national heritage buildings.
He said he is hoping that the new Committee set up would hold with the fund-raising effort.