Transport Authority to spend $370m retrofitting old JAMINTEL bulding
CABINET has approved the spending of over $370 million by the Transport Authority of Jamaica (TA) to renovate the former head office of JAMINTEL, at the corner of Duke and North Streets in downtown Kingston, to accommodate its corporate offices.
A recent submission from the TA to the House of Representatives’ Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) says that the Authority had originally sought approval for $250 million for the project, which was approved in January.
However, the Authority has since revised the cost upwards to $370.5 million. The request was approved by cabinet on May 18. The Authority says it has identified funding for the project.
“The renovation project includes the engagement of a project manager, professional engineers, demolition of internal building structures and the engagement of a construction company to renovate the building,” the submission said.
The Transport Authority is the government agency with responsibility for the licensing of all public and commercial vehicles, and the regulating and monitoring of public transportation in Jamaica.
The Authority currently occupies offices at 119 Maxfield Avenue, which houses its administrative operations, and 109 Maxfield Avenue, where its operations team is located. However, it had expressed a desire to relocate to the downtown building, which previously housed the headquarters of the Jamaica International Telecommunications Limited, popularly known as JAMINTEL, which later merged into Cable and Wireless (LIME/Flow).
The TA plans to spend some $440 million to relocate its corporate offices to the new premises, which it purchased in April, 2014 for $150 million, with plans to retrofit the building and its car park, as well as install technology infrastructure.
During the last decade much interest has been expressed in acquisition of the building, including a proposal to house the offices of the commissioner of police. However, the government said that it would be a logistics nightmare to house the Commissioner and the police high command in that building.
