Over $18M Spent On Rent As Admin Complex Delays Continue

Government has spent more than $18 million renting offices for ministries and departments displaced from the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex, as renovation works continue to face delays.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley disclosed the expenditure in the House of Assembly on Wednesday evening, October 21, while answering questions from Opposition Member and Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn that had been on the Order Paper since July.

The Premier put the total rental expenditure from August 2017 at $18,387,596.26 for offices accommodating ministries and departments displaced following the 2017 hurricanes.

Walwyn immediately questioned the figure.

“Premier, are you sure the figures are correct? Are you sure? It doesn’t seem right,” he said.

The Premier explained that the accompanying table recorded expenditure by year, with the figures accumulating to the overall total.

He cited approximately $157,000 in 2018 and $1.43 million in 2019, with the amount listed for 2026 standing at approximately $3.6 million.

Given the time between submitting the questions and receiving answers, Walwyn pressed him on whether the figures were current or dated back to July.

“Is the answer present or from July?” he asked.

The Premier did not confirm the precise cut-off date, but indicated that he did not expect any additional expenditure to significantly change the total provided.

“I’m not sure if it’ll be any more than that. But I can confirm that,” he said, referring to the approximately $3.6 million listed for 2026.

Tenders Received For Evaluation And Cabinet Approval

The disclosure followed an update earlier that afternoon from Minister of Communications and Works Kye Rymer, who said tenders for the Administration Complex renovation had finally been received from shortlisted companies.

Rymer said the submissions were returned to the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, October 20, for expedited evaluation ahead of Cabinet approval.

“We have finally reached the stage where tenders have been received from the shortlisted companies,” he told the House.

He acknowledged that the process had taken longer than anticipated, pointing to delays during the design and procurement stages.

The project has previously faced a shifting timetable. In a September 2025 government update, contracts were expected to be awarded that December, with a contractor mobilised by January 2026, subject to further delays.

Rymer said two tenders had been issued for the complete renovation, enhancement and upgrade of the complex, with funding coming from the Government’s $100 million loan facility and the Caribbean Development Bank.

While recognising the frustration caused by the delays, he maintained that the established tender procedures had to be followed to ensure transparency, fairness and value for money.

“The design and procurement phase took a longer time than anticipated. However, the Government and the Ministry of Communications and Works remain committed to delivering this critical project,” Rymer said.

He said the aim remained to return public officers to a centralised location that was fit for purpose.