MATHLE Minister Hon David Osborne and new DFID representative for Montserrat, Mrs. Moira Marshall
The newly appointed Minister David Osborne officially declared the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and the Environment building open in lower Brades on Tuesday, September 27, 2017 in the witness of several other government Ministers, officials, public servants and a cross section of the public.
Several of the top officials officiated in the proceedings; Opening prayers were led by Mrs. Eulyn Silcott-Greaves Ministry’s, Director of Housing, while Miss Thiffanie Williams, Environment Officer gave welcoming remarks. Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Daphne Cassell delivered background information on the development project, which she said would later be developed further to include another robust and resilient building on the compound, to provide permanent accommodation for the Department of Agriculture (include Office of the Directorate, Extension Services and Veterinary Unit), and the Physical Planning Unit [Building Inspectorate, Electrical Inspectorate and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)].
Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Daphne Cassell
Following these presentations, Miss Maria Silcott, Trade and Ql Officer (Ag.) read out acknowledgements of support from GoM, DFID Ministries, departments, PIU reps, to stakeholders, staff and media.
The prayers of dedication were led by Pastor Toney Allen of the Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, following which, the new MATHLE Minister Hon David Osborne, declaring the building open, noting the blistering sunshine that showed him and others sweating quite noticeably, with support from the new DFID representative for Montserrat, Mrs Moira Marshall, performed the ribbon cutting.
In her background of the project, Mrs Cassell noted that the Ministry building which replaces timber constructed building, to accompany the other (permanent) building on the compound, is a steel reinforced structure, with concrete blocks; concrete roof; Dade-County approved aluminium frame and impact resistant windows. This she said will now deliver its services in a 5,300 square foot, two-storey building designed for that purpose on its compound in Brades.
The building will occupy specifically, the Department of Environment and Consumer Affairs division on the ground floor, the first floor while the Office of the Minister be on the first floor, along with the Trade and Quality Infrastructure Division; IS&T Section, and a
Conference Room.
The PS said, “Indeed this is a significant accomplishment and it also provides a reassuring feeling, particularly in light of the devastation to the build environment across the region, we’ve seen the devastation in a number of our neighboring Caribbean islands. We’re just recovering from the passage of the two recent category 5 Hurricanes.
She revealed that the original allocation for the 5,300 square foot two-story building construction was $2,207,000, with some project overruns and additional funding for furnishings.
Further information also revealed that the Office of the Deputy Governor working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands and the Environment, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, PWD Architectural Section and the Project Implementation Unit developed the Project.
The construction approach was that of a hybrid of the design-build process, in which the PWD’s Architectural Section completed the design and the contracted design-build entity completed the Architectural Services (phase 1) and Construction Services (phase 2). Lenjoy Construction was awarded the contract to undertake both phases: the architectural services (include design development,
working drawings, planning approval, Bill of Quantities) and also Construction Works. Project management was undertaken by the Project Implementation Unit, with Construction Supervision by Engineering Design & Construction (EDC Ltd).
