Proposed Parliament building won't cause wide-scale demolition - PM
Published:Tuesday | October 2, 2018 | 12:00 AMLivern Barrett/ Senior Parliamentary Reporter
Residents of Allman Town and adjacent communities in central Kingston who are worried about possible dislocation because of the proposed construction of a new Parliament building at the National Heroes Park are being given assurances by the Government.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday acknowledged that the Government Oval Project will involve "some demolition and new construction", but gave an assurance that it does not propose the demolition of "virtually all buildings" around the National Heroes Park.
He was responding to Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting in the House of Representatives.
Bunting questioned whether Holness was aware that the master plan for the project proposes the demolition of the ministries of finance, education and labour "and most of Allman Town".
But Holness dismissed this assertion.
"It, in fact, proposes the re-development of the area and its environs," he said.
The prime minister noted, however, that the mandate of the project is to redevelop and upgrade public infrastructure, housing stock, as well as commercial and recreational spaces around Heroes Park.
As a result, he conceded that this will include "some demolition and new construction".
"All existing structures in the project area, including ministry buildings, will be assessed to determine if they are at or past their usable life for replacement or upgrade, as necessary," said Holness.
Providing an update on the project, he said a development proposal concept design document was completed in September last year.
He said this document contains baseline information that will form part of the final master plan to be prepared for the area. In addition, Holness said the feasibility of the proposal is being assessed before it is submitted to Cabinet for a final decision.
The prime minister indicated that the community and residential components of the project have not yet been detailed.
"The detailing of this area will be informed by the community assessments to be done by the Social Development Commission as a part of determining the feasibility of the wider proposal," he said.