The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) announced the phased relocation of specific operations at the rehabilitated controversial building at High and Princes streets.
According to an advertisement in this newspaper, the relocation marks a new chapter for the commission, symbolizing not just a change of location, but also the upgrading of facilities, adoption of new technologies, and a renewed commitment to the sector.
The information, communication, and technology department moved to High and Princes streets and has been fully operating there since May 20. With effect from May 28, the finance, mines (including mines clerical, mines inspectorate, surveying unit, mines technical), and land management divisions were relocated and are now accessible at the new location, the advertisement said.
Those initial moves represent the first phase of the transfer to the new facility, involving divisions that regularly engage with stakeholders and the public. The various secretariats and back-office operations are next according to the ad.
GGMC Deputy Commissioner Jacques Foster, the advertisement, said that the phased approach ensured minimal disruption to the services and allowed for a smooth transition.
The cost for the rehabilitation of the building is unknown. However, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat had confirmed that the PPP/C government implemented a 2012 cabinet decision to relocate the GGMC to a new building in Georgetown as it had outgrown its office.
The minister had also stated that the Guyana Gold Board will be housed on the property, considering its size. He clarified that the goal was to consolidate all of the GGMC’s services into one area.
The controversial building, constructed on former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation land starting in 2008 for the government at $600 million, was to be occupied by the Ministry of Labour, but construction issues prevented occupancy. A former construction worker claimed the building was over 70% finished when work stopped.
This was in 2011. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was supposed to move into the facility in 2010. This never happened and GRA later moved into the former CLICO building on Camp Street.
In 2013, a public source claimed the foundation of the building was substandard, and Kishan Bacchus Construction Company exceeded contract specifications. The building’s ceiling was poorly built, had limited vertical space for the installation of roofing and air vents and the original contractor withdrew. It was placed on hold in 2014 due to disagreements over the contract to finish the building. The GGMC initially awarded the contract to a business associated with Kishan Bacchus Construction Company, but faced several objections. As a result, the GGMC Board decided to pause the contract and reevaluate it.
“I know we heard a whole host of comments about white elephant and waste of money,” Bharrat had said, “but the building is structurally sound because we did all of that test…” He further explained, “The flooring is [replaced with a] steel flooring. One of the issues people had, was the design in which it was casted there wasn’t much beam or post. I was told by the engineer it wasn’t a mistake, it was a design that we are not accustomed to seeing…” He added that they had to retrofit the ceiling because when the channels and conduits for the air-conditioning were installed there was little headspace between the floor and ceiling.
Rickford Vieira, a former commissioner of the GGMC, in August 2015, had told this publication that no decision had been taken on the building. A delegation led by David Patterson, then Minister of Public Infrastructure, had visited and examined the building following the APNU+AFC coalition’s assumption to office in 2015. The ministry began looking at measures to make the complex safe for occupation, former Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, had stated in 2016. Trotman had said that the structure “stands out as an embarrassment” for the past PPP/C administration because over $700 million was spent and the building was no closer to being occupied. He said the Guyana Forestry Commission and the GGMC had together put over $400 million into the building, with an expectation that they would be able to occupy it. The APNU+AFC administration then declared in January 2017 that the Ministry of Social Protection would move all of its offices to that facility in 2018 and would invest more than $1 billion in the building’s restoration. In June 2017, the Ministry of Social Protection issued a call for bids for eligible contractors for the completion of the administrative building, expected to cost $750 million, and the construction of the driveway, parking area, and revetments, which had an additional estimated cost of $130 million. It is unclear what happened as no work was undertaken at that time.
