Parliament building plans move
Published:Sunday | January 26, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter
THE PORTIA Simpson Miller-chaired Cabinet has reversed the 2008 decision of the Bruce Golding administration to acquire lands surrounding Gordon House, downtown Kingston, for the construction of a new parliament building.
A ministry paper tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday indicates that in addition to reversing the decision to acquire the lands, the Cabinet also decided to rescind the related declaration for the compulsory acquisition on the surrounding properties at 85 and 90 Duke Street, Kingston.
Gordon House, the seat of the nation's Parliament, is located at 81 Duke Street.
The ministry paper notes that, since 2008, there has been a review of the proposal for the expansion of the parliament building and that "favourable consideration" has been given to the establishment of a new parliament building at the northern end of National Heroes Park. The area is to be called Parliament Square, the ministry paper states.
In 2008, Elizabeth Stair, chief executive officer of the National Land Agency, said her entity was in the process of acquiring eight parcels of land in the vicinity of Gordon House for the construction of a new Parliament building.
At the time, she said letters of offer would be issued to three landowners, including the principals of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association.
Purchase lands
Also, then Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall, in delivering the 2008-2009 Throne Speech, said steps had already been made to purchase lands surrounding Gordon House on Duke Street.
"It is widely accepted that the existing parliament building and the facilities it provides are woefully inadequate for parliamentarians to properly discharge their responsibilities to the people,"Sir Kenneth had said.
"In view of the rich historical significance of the present location, the new structure will be developed utilising the existing site and adjoining lands."
No reason has been provided in the ministry paper for the Cabinet's decision to head to Heroes Circle rather than building on the existing structure at Duke Street.