by Linda Straker
- Building next to Sendall Tunnel which partially collapsed last Monday, 30 January
- Minister of Mobilisation seemed unaware building is owned by NIB
- From 2009 to 2012 several state properties were sold to NIB to raise revenue for recurrent and capital expenditures
The building next to Sendall Tunnel which partially collapsed last Monday, 30 January 2023 is owned by the National Insurance Board (NIB). They have assured that a structural engineer will assess the property to determine the next step.
“We are engaging the services of a structural engineer to assess the building and advise on the next steps. Given the potential risk we are treating the matter with urgency,” said Dorsett Cromwell, Director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Known as The Drill Yard, the building that formerly housed the Ministry of Works and other government departments before the Ministerial Complex was among state properties sold by the Tillman Thomas National Democratic Congress administration (2008 to 2013).
From 2009 to 2012, that administration’s Minister of Finance Nazim Burke sold several state properties to the NIB as the Government sought to raise revenue for recurrent and capital expenditures.
Besides the Drill Yard, assets sold by the Tillman Thomas administration included Government’s shares in Grenada Breweries Limited, Cable and Wireless, Sandino, the property known as Hotel California in the Point Salines, the property known as the Doctor’s Residence in Maran, St John, and the former St James Hotel in St George’s.
All the properties sold to the NIS by the then NDC Government are publicly listed in the annual reports of the statutory body for the past 9 years.
Within minutes of the partial collapse, Andy Williams, Minister of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation told the Government Information Service (GIS) that his ministry was awaiting engineers from the Ministry of Infrastructure who will advise them on what to do.
Williams’ office is within walking distance of the affected building. “If their (Government engineers) recommendation is to break it down and demolish it, we will have to do so because we do not want anyone to be hurt in the process,” he said while promising that there be a speedy removal of the debris.
The Minister seemed unaware that the NIB owns the Drill Yard.
Valid point but on the other hand, St. George’s is presently so dilapidated and yet it is the first thing a large portion of our tourists get to see and tourism’s importance is only growing! Is privatization of these heritage sites a solution.
I want to note a correction to the article. It is not a building collapse since the drill yard has long since ceased to be a building. It is the collapse of ruins!
Another important historic building is The T.E. Noble Smith old building site, luckily still seen in bold letters It is right close to the once Nova Scotia now the merged Republic Bank, on Halifax Street, St Georges. That was one of the early business buildings, and businessman, in St George’s. Furthermore, check out the Grenada Co-operative Bank, as it is mentioned in their banking history, as an original founder of the same bank. Grenada Co-operative Bank, claims the original, name, was, known as the (**Penny Bank.**) Seek promotional sponsors from the bank, to preserve and accentuate, that vital part of our heritage-economic-cultural history. They must ave photos too. Please bring to the attention of Angus Martin, historian, who has been a major help, in addressing our important historic culture. Maybe Paul keens Douglas could attest to same. By the way, Grenada needs to ensure the mentioned, would be in the planned refurbished library, in the making. Involve the students in the financial curriculum, to pursue same, as part of their practicum, curriculum studies. Britain has all our history legislative, plus well recorded, and exhibited for the world to see. Then what has been our problem, in not understanding too, all such, significant facts, enhance the educational-tourist industry. History, culture, are all intertwined. God bless all Grenadians to focus on our wealthy, unique history and culture. Let that be part of each parish’s clean up and historic revitalization. Time each parish, legislator, elected and appointed, see such projects as the V.I.P. enablers, to spread the tourist visits, throughout the entire country. God bless all towards uplifting, sustaining, and securing our healthy cultural wealth. Thanks. Amen and Amen.
Why are we keeping these old building in town. One day the earth will shake, and they will come down. Hope no one get hurt.
We just don’t have the money to keep these buildings
in good shape nothing last forever.
We could rebuild these building and retain the architecture in St George’s
It is an absolute tragedy that our buildings have been allowed to deteriorate and fall apart like this… an absolute scandal. I commend the government for its badly needed steps to restore Fort George and the Public Library, but they NEED to start work on restoring York House and Government House before something like this happens there. Those two buildings are the most important historical state buildings we have in this country. They HAVE TO be restored and saved.
This is such a pointless comment, I’m sure the previous and current government knows what buildings need to be redone, but its all about priority and availability of funding. Parliament was rebuilt, the hospital was expanded, the market , the fort is being done now..etc. One at a time buddy we’re not rich country.