$18.5-m contract for St James Parish Council’s fourth floor
Western Bureau: The $18.5-million refurbishment of the fourth floor of the St. James parish council office building in Montego Bay is slated to get under way by November 5, and should be completed over a four-month period.
The contract to undertake the work was awarded to HDB Contractors Limited and the contract signing took place at the council on Wednesday.
Funding for the project was provided by the Government of Jamaica and by the International Development Bank (IDB). It is being undertaken through the Government’s 1999 Parish Infrastructure Development Programme (PIDP), aimed at increasing the capacity of parish councils to deliver on services like garbage collection, street lighting and infrastructure maintenance.
The refurbishment will include:
* a new mayor’s parlour
* an office for the deputy mayor,
* the relocation and expansion of the council chambers to accommodate up to 40 persons in addition to members of the public
* a caucus room
* a lobby for the public
* a kitchenette and
* restroom facilities
The work will also include the installation of air conditioning and a public address system, electrical upgrading, plumbing, drainage and floor tiling.