THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Monday refuted claims in sections of the media that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission had concluded any arrangement to rent any property on Regent Street or surrounding area.

A public missive sent to the media yesterday by the Commission said the Commission was disappointed that a section of the media published such inaccuracies without first seeking clarification.
Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud, in an invited comment recently, had confirmed that tenders are yet to be effected for completion of the former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation Building on High Street. According to Minister Persaud, GGMC will soon be moving to execute the contract process, after which the building will serve as an extension facility.
Persaud said the building will house a number of departments, inclusive of laboratories.
The Natural Resources Ministry was originally housed in the Office of the President after its establishment in 2011, but recently relocated to the GGMC building on Brickdam.
The Ministry has since outgrown the capacity of that facility, and the GGMC has since acquired the property for just over $100M. It had originally been earmarked for the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.
The building had originally housed the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and government had mulled having the Ministry of Health relocate to the facility following the fire that destroyed its Brickdam Headquarters several years ago.