Ministers soft opens new government building
Prime Minister William Marlin (left) speaks with Remco Stomp, a former dean of the Bar Association. To the far left Sharia Bommel is visible. Next to Marlin from left Sjamira Roseburg, Geert Hatzman and Safira Ibrahim. Right is Erno Labega. Photo Today / Milton Pieters
GREAT BAY – Protesting pro bono lawyers made their presence felt during the soft opening of the Government Administration Building on Pond Island to the displeasure of government coordinator Erno Labega and Finance Minister Richard Gibson.
The attorneys refused to leave until they had spoken to Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo who earlier on Friday morning had not been available at his office on Illidge Road. Prime Minister William Marlin spoke with the attorneys and promised them the first meeting in the new government administration building after the opening ceremony.
Labega spoke of “an unfortunate interruption” of the attorneys. “Give us a couple of minutes to straighten this out,” he told the invited guests. Those minutes became half an hour and the dissatisfaction among the guests became audible, even though some said, “If I had been in their situation, I would have done the same.”
Finance Minister Richard Gibson expressed a different sentiment, saying that he never went to openings to disrupt them. “I would have called the minister’s office for an appointment. We should not appreciate that display on this glorious day.”
Labega said that the project had experienced a lot of stumbling blocks on the way to the soft opening, after missing deadlines for moving in on July 1 and 15. “Think of September 23 as July 1,” he quipped.
The civil service will move into the building in phases. After the Council of Ministers that is now working on the fourth floor of the building, the ministry of general affairs will follow by the middle of October, before the finance department will move into the ground floor.
Access to the building will be restricted until all work has been completed.
SZV-Director Glen Carty explained how the government had come to an agreement about settling its payment arrears. “In 2013 we set it at 115 million guilders, but in 2014 we reached a settlement for 75 million. “The government could not find the mechanism to pay and the Cft did not allow the government to contract loans. Normally we would have moved in with an attachment and with the auction of property but we thought that we could not do that with the government.”
Carty referred to a meeting with Finance Minister Gibson as “one hell of a meeting” but that resulted in the end in a win-win situation for both the government and the SZV.
When Carty first took a look at the building that was completed by developer RGM in 2008, he found a lot of corrosion, not working elevators and a lot of rats. “We said: SZV will take the lead with this investment into finishing the building. From January 1 we will start collecting rent.”
Carty ended his brief speech with an advice to the government: “Please keep emptying the other buildings you are renting.”
Finance Minister Gibson spoke of a “glorious day. “I started working here on Thursday. We save already 100,000 guilders a month in rent and by the time it is completed we will save between 350,000 and 400,000 a month.”
Over the past eight years the government has paid 70 million guilders for the building without ever occupying it. “Now we will save 400,000 for a number of years and then we will be able to repurchase the building.”
Gibson acknowledged Carty’s role in the solution. “You have been tolerant and understanding, rather than putting liens on our assets. You chose the route of negotiations. Maybe I stamped my feet a bit too often to reach this point, but it served its purpose.”
The minister lauded Carty and also APS Chairman Franklyn Richards “for understanding that we are in the same boat together. Better times lie ahead if we can stay the course,” he said.
Prime Minister William Marlin recalled the names he had given the building in the course of the years as the leader of the opposition: the most expensive chicken coop in the world, and the white elephant with the green hat. “Now I am happy to celebrate the opening of this building. The government departments are scattered all over Philipsburg. We had to put a stop to that.”
Marlin also addressed his critics who have called moving into the building just before the elections a political decision. “Was it a political decision? Of course it was. We made a promise that we would move into this building during our governing period.”
Marlin named Glen Carty as “one of my go-to guys,” adding that Carty is someone who “tackles problems head-on and looks for solutions.”
He also lauded Minister Gibson as “a tremendous asset” and as the one who brought private and public sector ideas as well as legal issues together.
Marlin announced that the top floor of the Government Administration Building at Clem Labega square is now empty and that it will be retrofitted to accommodate the Charlotte Brookson Academy that has to leave the premises of the university per October 1.
Prime Minister William Marlin handles the oversized scissors to cut the ribbon with Finance Minister Richard Gibson and APS chairman Franklyn Richards to his left and SZV-director Glen Carty to his right. Photo Today / Milton Pieters
