The press also asked both Cordel Hyde and Julius Espat about the government departments that have started to move into the Eleanor Hall Building on Chetumal Boulevard. That's the multi-million dollar complex that the former Barrow Administration built in the Lake Independence Constituency, and it is contemplated as a multi-purpose government office space.
And now, the Briceno Government must make sure that the large scale public investment doesn't go to waste. Here's what the Deputy Prime Minister had to say about how his constituents have received that building:
Hon. Cordel Hyde - Acting Prime Minister
"I know it was a painful pill for us to swallow in the last administration because I believe it started at 12 million, 13, 14, 15 million, and it ended up at about 26, or even more millions on that building. And they couldn't give us anything out of that, anything out of that. We have to do things differently this time, you know. I think the people ultimately punished the government for that, for treating them so badly, and so callously, during that time. Our job is to make sure that whatever development comes in up the area - and there's lots of development slated to come up in that particular area. It's a hot area. We're going to make sure that our people get theirs. In fact, right now we're focused on dealing with the situation where a lot of people have squatted on private lands there. It's a whole mess. We started to put in streets a while ago, and now we are trying to finalize surveys, is trying to finalize negotiations with the land owners, so that government can acquire it, so that ultimately, we can get it properly surveyed, and people can get their land titles. We're hoping to get that done; we've set September. I'm keeping my fingers crossed."
The Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing also told the press that several of the government departments have already started to move in:
Hon. Julius Espat - Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing
"Most of them have; the building is now occupied. They were waiting for furniture, which came in already. So, Treasury is there; National Bank is there. I believe DFC is there. The Prime Minister's office, our Ministry of Finance, is - I don't think they have occupied it in its entirety, but they're starting to show presence. So, yes."
Reporter
"You mentioned earlier you're a servant for the people, but what goes through your mind when you see that huge building? Millions of dollars and just across, a swamp filled with poor people."
Hon. Julius Espat
"You've heard me mention my feelings about that many, many years ago. It hasn't changed, but we have inherited something. And as part of the government, I have to be responsible to make sure that what is there, at least, is preserved, that we maintain it and that it's used efficiently. That's our role. We weren't the decision-makers, but in the end, we inherited it and we have to be responsible to maintain it."
