THE Ministry of Public Health (MPH) last week signed a contract to the tune of $365,487,308 for the construction of a main office building at its Lot 1 Brickdam, Stabroek, location.

According to a press release from the Ministry, its Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams presided over the signing with contractor, Cleon Chung, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chung’s Global Enterprise in the Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam.

The permanent secretary explained that the process was an open bidding where contractors were allowed to submit their proposals. Base on evaluations, few were shortlisted which led to the subsequent final decision on which company was awarded the contract.

The building, she said, will be a steel framed, concrete structure which is expected to house the ministers’ secretariat and other departments of the ministry.

Adams pointed out that ever since the fire in 2005 which resulted in severe damage to various sections of the main office on Brickdam and a subsequent fire to the Medex annex in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD) in 2014, the ministry has been cramped for space, forcing the authorities to rent buildings to house a number of departments and units.

She explained that the contractors have, within two week of signing of the contracts, to commence construction of the building