OVER THREE THOUSAND PUBLIC SERVANTS GET NEW ACCOMMODATIONS

MEDIA RELEASE 

May 9, 2017

OVER THREE THOUSAND PUBLIC SERVANTS GET NEW ACCOMMODATIONS

“The significance of this occasion, extends beyond the formal opening of these buildings. The greater significance lies in the Government’s ability to effect much needed savings to the national treasury as a result of us moving into buildings bought and paid, by the tax-payers of Trinidad and Tobago.”
This is one of the many benefits of the Government Plaza highlighted by the Minister with responsibility for the public service, Minister of Public Administration and Communications, the Honourable Maxie Cuffie.

As he highlighted the challenges the government faced with finding appropriate accommodations for public officers, Minister Cuffie explained that the entire plaza will “house 3,291 public servants in state-of-the-art offices.”

What this means, Minister Cuffie said, is that the Government Plaza will drastically reduce the number of public officers working in unsuitable workspaces which frequently invited the scrutiny of both the Occupational Safety and Health Department and the representative trade unions.
However, he also advised that now the Government has upheld its part of the contract and provided safe, comfortable, modern and clean accommodations, it is imperative that public officers deliver excellent customer service to citizens.

“The Government has done its part, and now those who occupy and those who utilize the services offered in these buildings must do their own.”
Additionally, the opening of the Government Plaza is expected to save the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) approximately M$18.3 annually in rental accommodations.

The plaza has five (5) buildings and a central plaza and is located on 1,154,000 sq ft. It will house:

  • the Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance
  • the Board of Inland Revenue and the associated Archive Building of the Ministry of Finance
  • the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs
  • and the multi-storey car park opposite (Parkade) which can accommodate 1,600 vehicles.
     

The Government Plaza is also outfitted with retail shops, a public outdoor/performance area, an auditorium and a restaurant. It was officially opened earlier today.