Government is shelling out more than $10 million annually to rent office space and may need to invest in another government building, according to Infrastructure Minister Jay Ebanks.
The multi-million dollar Government Administration Building in George Town, which opened its doors in 2011, was five times bigger than the old ‘glass house’. But it was never built to accommodate the entire civil service.
“We outgrew it from the first day we walked in,” Ebanks said Friday on Radio Cayman.
“When I think about the design of the building … it just wasn’t fit for purpose, it didn’t take into account everything that we needed.”
The initial plan was for two buildings, including multi-level parking, at the site on Elgin Avenue. But the project was downsized amid concerns over costs, which came in around $93 million for the single building.
Now, with civil service numbers continuing to increase and many government departments housed in increasingly expensive rental offices, the concept is back on the radar.
Ebanks told morning show host Orrett ‘OC’ Connor that discussions were in the early stages. He gave no cost outline for the project, which he acknowledged could take three or four years to get started but suggested it would pay for itself in savings on rent.
“We are renting a lot, and we’re all over … spread out with departments and sections of ministries all over the place. So from the rent aspect of what we’re doing, I know definitely we can look at building a new admin building and actually paying for it very quickly.”
He estimated government spends between $10 million and $12 million on rent each year.
Acting Deputy Governor Wesley Howell, in an interview with the Compass on Monday, said there are currently around 800 staff housed in the five-floor building. Several key departments, including the social services, WORC, counselling services and financial assistance, are in rented space elsewhere in George Town.
He said any plans for a new office building would require a business case that looked at the advantages of having government-owned facilities versus renting. Howell added that there may be additional benefits in placing some government services and functions out east, where a growing number of people now live.
Meanwhile, parallel talks are taking place on what to do with the old government building at the glass house, which was vacated in 2011 amid concerns over structural damage.
Previously plans were mooted to turn the area into a park. In his radio interview, Ebanks highlighted the potential for a historical exhibit and a wellness centre as part of a renovation.
“Everything is going to boil down to what the cost is, and … what it will take to get a certificate of occupancy back for the building, and the safety of the building,” he said.
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The government needs to shrink, not grow. It already overpays its workers and makes all its money from the private sector businesses where it raises fees every year. It is a mismanaged money pit.
Build a government building in the east mirroring departments held in the current admin building. Then the staff from say Savannah to East End/North Side can work there eliminating traffic going to the capital each work morning.
No way! Yawl need to leave East End alone! Your just late all the time and want to be closer. Don’t start taking over the quiet East End with stupid buildings! Leave it “as is”!
In theory they should have a lot of space available based on previous statements by Gov’t, but mismanagement of space has been an issue for a long time.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2012/03/08/new-government-building-half-full/
Every month when I go to the third Floor, I see endless desk cubicles empty in both directions from the 3rd floor reception area. Or are these staffers still working from home and being non productive.
Civil service is extremely over staffed in ratio to Cayman population!
Make do with what you have and educate and “manage” your office staff to be more productive..
I wonder how much of the external rental costs go to civil servant landlords?. One approach is for Govt to ban new hires for a year and have all new staff pay for their own medical expenses, like the rest of us.