As we celebrate World Facility Management Day on 14 May 2025, it’s worth revisiting some age-old wisdom: “Prevention is better than cure,” and “If you don’t schedule maintenance for the equipment, the equipment will schedule it for you.”
These timeless insights resonate even more strongly today, especially when viewed through the lens of facility management and the essential role it plays in the efficiency and productivity of any organisation.
Why Facility Management matters
Facility Management (FM) goes far beyond fixing a leaky pipe or servicing an air conditioning unit. It’s about creating safe, functional, and efficient environments that support an organisation’s core operations. Whether in the public or private sector, in-house or outsourced, the primary objective of FM is to enable an organisation to achieve its mission by ensuring the built environment works as intended.
According to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), facility management is “the organisational function which integrates people, place, and process within the built environment with the purpose of improving the quality of life of people and the productivity of the core business.”
In Grenada’s context, the Government of Grenada owns and operates a wide range of buildings across ministries, departments, and agencies. These buildings are crucial to the delivery of public services. For instance, without properly maintained and operational health centres, the Ministry of Health cannot deliver essential care. And so, clean, safe, air-conditioned facilities with running water and power are not luxuries — they’re operational necessities.
Current state of public facilities in Grenada
Despite the critical role of facilities management, there is a persistent culture of reactive or “breakdown” maintenance within many public institutions. Wait for something to break down, then move forward to fix it. Years of underinvestment and a culture of breakdown maintenance have left many government buildings in disrepair, contributing to inefficiencies, longer downtimes, frustrated staff and citizens, sick buildings and mounting repair costs. Additionally, there exists a poor attitude towards facilities management, and ministries and departments find it hard to effectively manage their facility.
The Facility Condition Index (FCI) — an industry-standard metric used to assess the condition of buildings — paints a troubling picture. Many government buildings in Grenada have an FCI between 50% to 100%, indicating extensive deterioration. In some cases, full replacement may be more cost effective than repair as new buildings typically have an FCI closer to 0%. Additionally, many government buildings are commissioned without proper maintenance manuals, as-built plans, or preventative maintenance schedules.
The absence of these has presented evidence of the importance of facilities management that is all around us: from staff being relocated due to unsafe working conditions, to health clinics being closed over mould and water damage, to news reports highlighting structural hazards. Lending to the deterioration is the procurement process itself, where low-cost residential-grade fixtures are often installed in commercial buildings, resulting in rapid wear and tear. Furthermore, there is limited adoption of maintenance technology or internationally recognised best practices.
The cost of inaction
It is just as important to allocate budgets for preventative maintenance as it is for reactive maintenance. While millions are often spent on constructing new buildings, ongoing upkeep is frequently overlooked. Without planned investment in maintenance, these facilities begin to fail much earlier than they should, wasting public funds, disrupting service delivery, and putting lives at risk.
The government’s increasing reliance on renting temporary spaces is another indicator of the long-term cost of deferred maintenance. What begins as a budget-saving tactic becomes a major financial burden over time.
FCL: A legacy of quiet commitment
Formerly known as Financial Complex Limited, Facilities Consulting Limited (FCL) has been quietly but diligently playing a pivotal role in government building maintenance for decades. Created after the devastating fire of the 1990s that destroyed the Financial Complex, FCL emerged through a Build, Operate, Lease, Transfer (BOLT) initiative. Once the debt was repaid, the company evolved into a maintenance provider, albeit without adequate resources.
At one point, FCL was operating on a shoestring — less than $150 per month per building for over 300 government structures — yet expected to cover staffing, materials, and emergency response. This number was increased to around $350 per month per building for over 300 facilities. Despite these limitations, FCL has been first on the ground in critical situations, from restoring power at the Grand Roy Medical Station to repairing leaking systems at Gouyave Medical Station and fixing HVAC units at major government facilities.
Most of these contributions go unrecognised and, frequently, uncompensated. Yet FCL remains unwavering in its mission to support national development through facility management.
A new era for FCL and Grenada
In recognition of these challenges, Grenada’s government has taken decisive action. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Honourable Dickon Mitchell, FCL was transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Infrastructure, underwent a name change, and was given a renewed mandate under a strategic plan focused on preventative maintenance and facility management.
Today, FCL stands as a rebranded and reinvigorated institution. With a clear vision and strategic framework, FCL is now leading Grenada’s transition from reactive to preventative maintenance. This evolution involves advanced technology, such as Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), which allows FCL to track over 5,000 individual assets — from faucets to AC units. This provides data that will reduce costs, minimise downtime, extend asset life, provide healthy environments and improve the work atmosphere.
FCL also works in line with international best practices. As a member of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), FCL ensures its staff are trained and certified, staying at the forefront of global FM standards and innovations.
Building toward sustainable development
The future of government building maintenance in Grenada must be proactive, strategic, and sustainable. The historical approach of deferred maintenance is no longer viable. With mounting costs associated with ageing infrastructure and leasing additional spaces, the government’s long-term vision, including the National Sustainable Development Plan 2020–2035, hinges on effective facility management.
FCL’s preventative maintenance model not only reduces costs and improves facility conditions, but it also enhances service delivery, safety, and overall well-being. As Grenada moves forward, FCL remains committed to being a cornerstone of this transformation.
Learn more
To learn more about Facilities Consulting Limited and its range of services, email [email protected] or visit www.fcl.gd.
FCL
Preventative maintenance, what a profound revelation! Embrace the rudimentary.