NASSAU, The Bahamas — The Ministry of the Public Service announced in the Mid-Year Budget in the House of Assembly, March 30th, that it is going to great lengths to find suitable accommodations for government ministries, and has been successful in relocating the majority of ministries in dire need of new location.

The Hon. D. Shane Gibson, Minister of Labour, National Insurance, and the Public Service said: “The provision of adequate facilities and accommodations for over 18,000 public officers and the many agencies is a major responsibility.  Though it is the Government’s intention to house as many ministries and departments in government-owned quarters [as possible] over the long term, this deficit makes us duty-bound to find adequate rental spaces until such time.”

Gibson said departments and agencies housed in the Clarence Bain building are on a high priority list for relocation, as was the Department of Statistics, which was recently moved to Madiera Street in Palmdale.  Also on that list was the Road Traffic Department, Social Services Department, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Labour, and the Eugene Dupuch Law School.

“Though not everyone agrees with the lease advanced by the Government, I once again express our gratitude to those property owners who have graciously consented to accept the Government’s policy of $25 per square-foot which includes common area maintenance.  This concession, all would agree, is favorable to the Ministry’s budget and to the Government,” said Minister Gibson.

In addition, the priority list includes the Ministry of Tourism, the Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems (BNGIS), the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Bilney Lane Children’s Home.