VI Gov’t spends $8.9M annually on renting office space- Premier Wheatley
During his Budget Address given at the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College campus at Paraquita Bay on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, Dr Wheatley said his government is committed to reducing expenditure as monies saved can be channelled into development work.
He said one expense his government we would like to reduce is the rent paid to accommodate Government offices.
‘We must prioritise repair & reconstructon’- Premier
“For us to reduce the $8.9 million spent annually on renting office space, we must prioritise the repair, renovation and, where necessary, reconstruction of Government buildings. We have done this on Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, as mentioned earlier,” Dr Wheatley stated.
Following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, a number of government buildings were damaged, including the Ralph T. O’Neal Central Administration Complex. Government offices that were affected had to be relocated to whatever property was left intact or available, increasing the rent bill.
The Premier and Minister of Finance said; however, that even before the hurricanes, some public buildings had been allowed to become unfit for occupancy, and alternative facilities had to be rented.
$3.3M allocated for repair of Admin Complex
Meanwhile, the Premier said the Minister of Communications and Works and his team have been pushing the work on the Ralph T. O’Neal Central Administration Complex and that the sum of $3.3 million has been allocated to advance the restoration and renovation of the Administration Complex “so that we can get our Ministries back under Government-owned accommodation.”
Some $8.92 million has been allocated for the construction of the Halls of Justice building, and $4.6 million for the fit-for-purpose building for the Department for Disaster Management and the Emergency Operations Centre.
Dr Wheatley also announced that funds have been allocated for renovations to the Water and Sewerage Building, Public Works Building, and the fire stations at Road Town, Virgin Gorda and other fire stations throughout the Territory.
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23 Responses to “VI Gov’t spends $8.9M annually on renting office space- Premier Wheatley”
Any money the government spends or transfers into the BVI is 'money in the local economy'.
The difference (and the shame in the Government's failure to rehabilitate the Administration Complex) is in (1) how effective a particular spending arrangement is at stimulating the local economy and (2) what benefits society enjoys from that particular spending arrangement.
In the case of government's unnecessary transfers to already-wealthy landlords who are more likely to save rather than spend and what is spent is more likely to be spent on themselves and outside of the BVI, the answer to (1) is 'not very', and (2) is 'few, if any at all'.
But unfortunately they don't.
1. Is this maximizing budget efficiency of limited resources?
2. How long has government been shelling out and average of $8.9 M per year for rent? Have government already bought new facilities?
3. Would it not have been better use of taxpayers limited resources to have borrowed money, if needed, to construct government facilities to house employees and functions?
4. Was this a deliberate plan to rent facilities from family, friends, etc ?
5. Is the rental temporary, for government is closing down, relocating, etc
6. How many square feet are government deficient to house effectively personnel ? What is the maximum square feet for a) ministers, b) department heads, c) managers and supervisors, d) storage, e) utilities , f) surge ( growth), etc?
7. What is the cost per square foot for office facilities?
8. Is it more cost effective to own or rent?
9. Is government paying market rate for rent?
Is there another space that can be rented at a lesser financial pressure to the tax payers? has that been explored or have we just accepted the $ 8.9 Million?
Have we considered opportunity cost in view of what can be done for that $8.9M in terms of sustainable repairs and advancement, our roads are a mess and I am sure I am not the only one whose garage bill have increased due to repairs or new parts.
There are still so many suffering since the impact of the hurricanes ((2017) and stop beating that and making it an excuse and get serious about fixing the impacts of those hurricanes) and the inability to repair and secure their homes and businesses, can some of this $8.9M, help if a more economical rental agreement is sought?
Yes the government is responsible for the growth of the Territory, but the government is not responsible or obligated to rent your place at an exorbitant sum, all of us pay into the tax system, so all should benefit from a pay out, not just a few, a selected few.
Are we heaping debt upon the heads of our children and grand children to repay these loans? And what will they inherit for this commitment that was made before they were born?
Because one premier made an agreement, a situational analysis should now be conducted to see if this is still a beneficial arrangement to the Public's purse and an explanation given as to the status of the government building and an expected time of completion.
To have capital projects being carried on and on and on is unacceptable. If this is the case, the government should choose one or two capital projects and see them to completion instead of having unfinished projects drag on for years upon years.
It is unfair to the Public's purse. I know that individuals would not have projects going on and on, if the money was coming out of their pockets so why does this seem to be the exception when persons take office? We thought in our minds that we have elected financially responsible persons but I think I have yet to see them emerging from this government. The focus seems to be spending from the hard earn money of the tax payers and jet setting all over the place under the guise of 'doing business'.
I must think even harder when I return to the poles next election period and unless I see candidates who are financially responsible and serious about the BVI and not obsessed with jet setting here, there and everywhere my X will not be given.
We have elected you to lead ... lead by being financially responsible and committed to the job assigned to you and not continue to jet set while our beloved country, buildings, institution and services (health services) continue to decrease in quality.
I now ask on a ranking of Caribbean Islands, where does the BVI fall? For years the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has been able to give their hard working public servants their salary and a bonus at Christmas, I have yet to experience that and I have been in the Government service for over 30+ years.
Couple months ago we showed off a hospital to the OECS Health Ministers, but what level of services is being offered to us, where are our doctors and other medical staff, are they being paid for their valuable service, what is the doctor patient ratio - what are the oncall hours for our doctors, are lab and ultrasound and other services available after 4: 30 pm? If not why?
Let us get better Ministers! We deserve better!!
May God help us all .