Gov’t to spend $200M to rehabilitate City Hall

Georgetown : Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon has announced Government’sintention to fund major rehabilitation works on the Georgetown City Hall building.

According to Dr. Luncheon, the rehabilitation works on the building, which is considered a historical site, can run in excess of $200 million.

“Cabinet also emphasised its resolve to fast track the planning of interventions into the rehabilitation of City Hall, as you may know or not know the building is threatened structurally, unsound and declared a dereliction by various knowledgeable experts’ opinion,” he said.

Dr. Luncheon said, Cabinet has confirmed government’s intention as the condition of that historic building continues to deteriorate, and it would remain an issue, and matter of concern for the administration.

Government has examined a number of current issues involving the city council and high on that list considered was the reported action of the Mayor, Hamilton Green with regards Town Clerk Carol Sooba over the Easter weekend.

“We reviewed accounts by documented sources detailing the offensive and ill-advised antics of the Mayor and Cabinet undertook to have that matter followed- up.”

Further Dr. Luncheon announced that he was informed by the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall that an appeal has been filed against the recent decision of the Chief Justice on the appointment of the Town Clerk.

City Hall’s Public Relations Officer, Royston King, one of the applicants for the Town Clerk’s position has applied to the Supreme Court to have Sooba’s appointment nullified. While the Chief Justice’s ruling stated that the minister no longer has the authority to appoint the Town Clerk, he did indicate that Sooba remains the de facto officer.