NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 10, 2018) — Construction in the Treasury Reconstruction Project in Charlestown continues apace and Mr. Colin Dore, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance says the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) continues to be satisfied with its progress.

In an update on the status of the project, Mr. Dore said on April 10, 2018, it is apparent that the 18-month Sugar Industry Diversification Fund (SIDF)-funded project would be completed ahead of schedule. The project commenced in October 2017.

“Work is progressing at a very rapid pace. We are very much pleased with the work so far knowing that we started just about four months ago and work has really progressed in earnest.

“The projected completion time initially was mid next year but based on what we are seeing it appears that we may be finished quite some time before that. From an Administration point of view we are very much pleased with the work. We are happy with what the contractor would have produced so far,” he said.

Over the last week, the outside underground cables were installed and on April 8, 2018, concrete was poured for the first floor of the building.

He said progress continues throughout this week with local masons subcontracted by the main contractor Lefco Equipment and Construction Company erecting concrete block walls to get to the second floor in preparation for casting.

Meantime, Mr. Dore says once the building is completed he is hopeful that the access area to what will become the Administration’s main hub for its financial operations will be converted to pedestrian-only access.

He said the Administration and the Traffic Department in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Nevis Division continues to work in unison to convert the area, in the interest of public safety, enhancing the ability to conduct business in and around Charlestown.

Mr. Dore is seeking the motoring public’s cooperation whenever a decision is taken on the matter by the relevant authorities.

“We will continue to work with the Traffic [Department] and government to ensure that around the building becomes pedestrian-only and we will be able to divert traffic away, in and out of Charlestown.

“We are asking the motoring public to be understanding when we get to that stage and a decision is made. As we are aware, we have more and more traffic on the road in Charlestown and, therefore, it is difficult sometimes for persons to be moving in and out of businesses to do their daily business and have to monitor the traffic just next door to you,” he said.

On completion, the financial complex will house the Treasury Department, the Due Payment Department and Inland Revenue Department who deal with the public daily. Other related departments will also be located there as well as the Information Technology Department.