Civic centre could miss new deadline
INDICATIONS are that the $125-million Montego Bay Civic Centre will not meet its revised June 30 completion date, according to superintendent of Roads and Works at the St James Parish Council, Tubal Brown.
The superintendent said his conclusion was based on the amount of work that remains to be completed.
“There’s a considerable amount of work left and I cannot see (it being) completed by June,” he told the Observer.
These works, he said, include paving and tiling, the implementation of external infrastructure and the air conditioning and electrical works.
In the meanwhile, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which has responsibility for the centre, said that while contractors were still working toward the June date, it is unlikely that all the works would be completed by then.
Corporate relations officer for the UDC, Doreen O’Connor, told the Observer they would in fact be working to complete the works in accordance with the request of Prime Minister, P J Patterson to have the works completed in time for the island’s Emancipation celebrations in August.
In the meantime, the prime minister, has expressed satisfaction with the “scope and pace” of the works being undertaken at the Centre.
“The work, which is being done to rehabilitate the civic centre is truly impressive. It incorporates all the features of the former courthouse of Montego Bay and what used to house the parish council, which is now going to be converted into a museum, a town hall and offering private facilities that can be rented out for the holding of meetings…,” he said.
He was on a recent tour of the centre.
“I am extremely pleased that the work is being done in a manner that preserves the historical background, the heritage of this great place, which has been renamed after one of our national heroes. And (which) also provides ample opportunity for citizens of the town and visitors to the town to be able to meet in very pleasant surroundings…,” he added.
But the prime minister said the UDC would have to make adjustments in order to ensure that the disabled can be accommodated at the centre.
This is in keeping with government’s recent commitment to make all state buildings accessible to disabled members of the population.
“I have … said to them (UDC) that something will have to be provided so that the disabled can have ready access to that building and some adjustments will have to be made to take it into account,” he said.
“Over all I am very, very pleased with the scope and pace of the project.”
