CitCo Ready to Move to New Headquarters but Furnishings are Still Outstanding

A few weeks ago, we showed you the newly renovated downtown commercial centre which will house City Hall. At the time, Mayor Bernard said the council was facing challenges in indentifying funding for furniture and fittings needed for offices.  Today, City Administrator Stephanie Lindo-Garbutt told reporters that while they are getting ready to move in, there is still some work taking place to accommodate other offices which will move over to the new building.

Stephanie Lindo Garbutt

Stephanie Lindo Garbutt, Administrator, Belize City Council

“We anticipate getting the keys for the building by the end of March or early April and thereafter about four to six weeks before we fully move in. We made some rectifications to the design to accommodate additional staff for the building. We have moved the city engineer and the legal adviser over to this building. As you know, the engineer is usually at the works department and the legal adviser is with the court. So, that is what the additional works are and those will be completed at the end of this month.  The current loan didn’t include a furniture package or an elevator or a backup generator for the building. So, as soon as we are able to access funding for those things, those will be installed. While we vacate what is now City Hall, the Municipal Court will be moving over to that location and coming to the new city hall, we will have all our administrative offices including our valuation, revenue, finance, human resources, PR, planning. All other offices remain as is; traffic will remain where they are, as well as the works department and sanitation will remain with works.”