October 29, 2020

Government Defends $20M Spent To Outfit #3 Alexandra

By Newsroom

Public Administration Minister Allyson West has described as “reasonable”, the State’s estimated expenditure of  $20 million to outfit a building at #3 Alexandra Street and says the price tag is in keeping with the market price for the value of the building.

Her statement comes days after the Congress of the People issued a statement publicly questioning whether the payment was fiscally responsible, especially given the constraints brought on by the coronavirus.

Discussion surrounding the building is also magnified by the fact that the property is owned by Zaman Enterprises Ltd, which is associated with Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s family.

At a press briefing held jointly with Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Thursday, Minister West defended the cost, as well as the $575,000 monthly rental fee for the space.

“When the Cabinet considered all of these facts and looked at the appropriateness of the building for the use for which we had intended to put it, we concluded that it was very reasonable,” she said, drawing a comparison to other properties rented by the state. 

She explained that West said the rent being paid for #3 Alexandra is equivalent to $14.31 per square foot, a “favorable cost” compared to the costs per square footage for buildings rented by other Ministries which ranged from $13.52 to $19.92.

“The AG is not benefitting over and above what he should based on the fact that he’s a member of Cabinet,” Minister West declared. 

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