Parliament’s East Wing makeover pricetag soars

Repairs and refurbishment of the East Wing of the Parliament buildings will cost Government five times the amount originally budgeted.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dr. William Duguid disclosed in Parliament this morning that more than $2.7 million is now needed to replace the 55-year-old air conditioning system, cabling and electrical wiring, along with the camera, video and communication system.

Addressing the last sitting of the House of Assembly before the Easter break, he said “a decision now has to be made as to whether funding is currently available for these works”.

“The total unbudgeted cost of the replacement of the above three systems is $2,746,135.31, for which a supplementary provision would be required,” he added in a ministerial statement that was later published on the Barbados Government Information Service website.

“Therefore, if the scope of works is increased to include the replacement of these three systems, then the refurbishment/repair cost of the East Wing would increase from $700 000 to a total cost of $3,446,135.31.”

Minister Duguid did not say how long the extra work at the near 150-year-old Parliament would take.

In recent years, several environmental problems have developed at the Parliament buildings, which were constructed between 1870 and 1874. This prompted a relocation to the Worthing Corporate Centre in February last year.

An initial environmental assessment found that mould was one of the contaminants. It also showed that the sealant on the walls was a contributing factor for the presence of the mould, as well as the rising moisture and dampness creeping up the walls. A second environmental assessment discovered another contaminant – disintegrating fiberglass in the ceilings – and further confirmed that the environmental problems were also caused by the concrete floors at ground level.

Duguid said the initial scope of the work to fix these problems, which was set to be completed by the end of September this year, included: removal of sealants from the walls, removal of the concrete ground floors, replacement of 5,813 square feet of ceiling, refurbishment of ground floor bathrooms and kitchen and dining room, electrical rewiring of the entire ground floor, refurbishment of the Senate and joining rooms and House of Assembly, repair of ceiling leaks and replacement of all carpeting.

Work began on December 15, 2020 with the removal of sealant, which was completed on January 18, 2021 while the demolition work on the floors, which started on December 22, 2020 is ongoing.

Minister Duguid said 10 per cent of the planned work was done by the end of February and despite a break during the period of national pause brought on by COVID-19 pandemic, everything was on track for a September 30, 2021 completion.

However, he said, following ongoing inspection of the building, professional advisors and the Management Commission of Parliament recommended that three “obsolete” systems be replaced.

“Firstly, the air conditioning system which was installed just after Barbados’ Independence in 1966 needs replacing at a cost of $1,102,161.95. Secondly, replacement of IT cabling and rewiring of the entire East Wing – cabling/electrical wiring which was unavoidably damaged as it was plastered into the walls and got damaged during the removal of the sealant on the walls; and thirdly, the replacement of the aged and obsolete camera, video and communication system,” Duguid said in his statement.

He added that officials were also looking into the feasibility of using photovoltaic solar panels to power the Parliament buildings and the Parliament clock.

The minister, during his statement, pointed to major issues that were considered and discussed in the Parliament since 1874, as he stressed the importance of restoring the historic Parliament, the third oldest in the Commonwealth.
(DP)