Estimate for 'Welcome to Montego Bay' sign insufficient - audit report

The Ministry of Tourism is reporting that the audit into the cost of the welcome sign to the resort town of Montego Bay in St James has found that the estimate is insufficient.

The audit was ordered by Tourism Minister Ed Barrett last month following public outcry about the $17 million price tag.

According to the ministry, the review highlighted that overall the costings for the project are within market rates.

However, it was pointed out that the estimate for the wall cladding was low and that the estimate for lettering and signage was insufficient.

Notwithstanding, the review conducted by quantity surveying firms, Davidson & Hanna, reportedly found that the rates overall do reflect market conditions.

Full Statement

One of Jamaica’s leading Quantity Surveying firms, Davidson & Hanna, which has been operating in the island since 1971 has given the Tourism Product Development Company’s bill of quantities a “thumbs up.”

This follows an instruction by the Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett, to have the Permanent Secretary review costs associated with the Welcome to Montego Bay Sign. 

Davidson & Hanna, which was recommended by the Master Builders Association of Jamaica to undertake the review, looked at the rates in the bill of quantities submitted by the Ministry of Tourism and compared them to market rates. They reported that most of the rates were found to be in order except for the following:

1. In their opinion the estimates for the wall cladding is low

2. The estimate for lettering and signage was insufficient for the execution of the work

In addition, Davidson & Hanna were able to confirm the accuracy of the quantities.  With respect to the overall estimate of construction costs generated by the TPDCo, it was evident that the sum was insufficient for the execution of the works. According to the report, “notwithstanding, the rates overall do reflect market conditions and demonstrate what we are finding in the building and construction industry.”

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has also highlighted that “I have instructed that the contingency of the three million dollars be reduced to no more than 10% of the total project cost. With the private sector’s injection of five million dollars, we expect that at the close of the construction of this new attraction, the team will come in well within budget.”

The review was headed by a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who is a member of the Jamaica Institution of Quantity Surveyors and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

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