News
Refurbishment of NJS Francis Building almost done
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 5, 2023 – The official home of the Turks and Caicos House of Assembly is close to completion as TCIG moves on to furnishings for the NJS Francis Building. The tender for the furniture was approved by Cabinet on October 11th.
It comes six years after the building was battered during the 2017 hurricane season, which included both Irma and Maria. After that round of damage, the building was declared unsafe in 2018, and work began to restore it.
The process has been a slow one, slogging through two administrations. In fact earlier this year HOA members expressed concern that contractors would not meet the Jan 2024 deadline however, representatives from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development PPID assured that Parliament would be complete in time.
It will not only mean an official home for the TCI HOA (which will soon be named parliament according to the UK) it will mean the Helena James Robinson high school can get their auditorium back for use by students.
That is where the HOA currently meets.
A representative of the PPID had explained during the public appropriations committee in early 2023 that, “The delays that were incurred were due to the fact that there was a need for additional funding to cater for scope that was not included in the original contract.”
The unforeseen expenses included: additions to the building like air conditioning and a fire suppressant system.