Government Department’s Migration to Eleanor Hall Building

We also got an opportunity to ask Espat, and Cordel Hyde, the Area Representative for Lake Independence, for an update on government’s transition to the Eleanor Hall Building on Lake Independence Boulevard. Several government departments are relocating to the multi-million dollar building which was constructed under the former administration for use as a multi-purpose facility. To date, the Treasury Department, National Bank, Development Finance Cooperation, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Finance have relocated to the building.  Looking out for his constituents, Hyde says there is a lot more development slated to come to the area.

Cordel Hyde, Area Representatives, Lake Independence

Cordel Hyde

“That was a painful pill for us to swallow in the last administration because I believe it started at 12 million, 13, 14, 15 million, and it ended up at about 26, or even more millions on that building. And they couldn’t give us anything out of that, anything out of that. We have to do things differently this time, you know. I think the people ultimately punished the government for that, for treating them so badly, and so callously, during that time. Our job is to make sure that whatever development comes in up the area – and there’s lots of development slated to come up in that particular area. It’s a hot area. We’re going to make sure that our people get theirs. In fact, right now we’re focused on dealing with the situation where a lot of people have squatted on private lands there. It’s a whole mess. We started to put in streets a while ago, and now we are trying to finalize surveys, is trying to finalize negotiations with the land owners, so that government can acquire it, so that ultimately, we can get it properly surveyed, and people can get their land titles. We’re hoping to get that done; we’ve set September. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Julius Espat

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing

“Most of them have; the building is now occupied. They were waiting for furniture, which came in already. So, Treasury is there; National Bank is there. I believe DFC is there. The Prime Minister’s office, our Ministry of Finance, is – I don’t think they have occupied it in its entirety, but they’re starting to show presence. So, yes.”

Reporter

“You mentioned earlier you’re a servant for the people, but what goes through your mind when you see that huge building? Millions of dollars and just across, a swamp filled with poor people.”

Julius Espat

“You’ve heard me mention my feelings about that many, many years ago. It hasn’t changed, but we have inherited something. And as part of the government, I have to be responsible to make sure that what is there, at least, is preserved, that we maintain it and that it’s used efficiently. That’s our role. We weren’t the decision-makers, but in the end, we inherited it and we have to be responsible to maintain it.”