CABINET was on Tuesday forced to hold its meeting at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Headquarters at Camp Ayanganna, because renovations are ongoing at the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) at Shiv Chanderpaul Drive in Bourda, Georgetown.According to the Department of Public Information (DPI) of the Ministry of the Presidency, repairs have commenced in some sections of the main buildings of the Presidential Complex. “These urgent works have resulted in some rooms, including Cabinet Room, being temporarily unavailable for use.

A thorough and extensive search was consequently conducted for a suitable space to temporarily host Cabinet meetings. “The main requirements for a temporary alternative venue relate to privacy and confidentiality, security, document preparation and reproduction, size, cost, accessibility, parking, and minimal disruption to traffic and regular business,” the DPI noted.

“After consideration of a number of options, it was found that the vast majority of these venues did not meet several, or some, of the most important requirements; or were unavailable for the times required,” the DPI said. “The only venue which met the requirements was the Officers Mess at Camp Ayanganna”.

The DPI disclosed that this venue is being temporarily used for Cabinet meetings, until repair works at the Ministry of the Presidency have been completed. There is, also, no additional cost to the state for use of the GDF Officers Mess.