The Education Ministry will move from its longstanding St Clair location and other satellite offices to its new Education Tower on St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, in the next three months, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said yesterday.
He added that having the ministry at that location will resolve certain current issues caused by having various education units housed in different buildings.
Garcia gave the relocation date in Parliament while replying to opposition questions on delays of increment payments to teachers, as well as pension and other retirement benefits to retired teachers.
The Education Tower, which was completed by the last People’s National Movement administration (2007-2010) at a cost of $460 million, was not used by the People’s Partnership administration and remained closed for five years.
A Udecott/SCG International project, the two buildings on site include a 16-storey steel and glass tower and five-storey secondary building. These comprise office, conference and meeting rooms, and large, open work spaces.
Shortly after the Dr Keith Rowley PNM administration took office last September, workers on site began preparing the 12-storey glass tower structure for use. Its paved courtyard is ready and lights are on in the building. Left to be completed is the removal of left-over debris from outfitting and finishing touches being done.
The ministry’s head office has been at Alexandra Street, St Clair, for years.
Also in Parliament yesterday, Garcia said issues that affected delays in the pensions/retirement benefit payments included unresolved Occupational Health and Safety matters that caused industrial action. As a result, employees were working for only five hours to deal with the matter. Other issues affecting that situation included submission of documents to the ministry in a timely fashion and applications for leave. He noted that departments handling such matters were in another Pembroke Street building and transport between the division and ministry affected processing. He said relocating the ministry to St Vincent Street will assist in facilitating efficient transaction of payments.
Also during yesterday’s session, Housing Minister Randall Mitchell said four structures which were demolished by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) at Tarouba were on lands vested in the HDC. He added that they were empty, abandoned burnt-out structures. He said the HDC had also given notice to illegal occupants about their occupation of the area, which was in a location designed by the HDC as an open (park) space. Mitchell said people were warned about trespassing and that no HDC permission had been given to build there. He said people had been asked to vacate the structure and the buildings were empty when HDC demolished them. (See Page A4)
Minister in the Attorney General’s office, Stuart Young, also said T&T has not been blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and has been working to ensure it fulfils its obligations under CFATF protocols. He said the CFATF’s June report will evaluate the situation and ascertain what, if any sanctions, might be imposed on T&T.