Government spent more than $200,000 on furnishings for the Public Works headquarters and the Government Administration Building.

According to a notice gazetted last month, the Ministry of Public Works spent $213,602.26 on office furnishings. The contract was reportedly put out to tender, and awarded to AF Smith Ltd.

A spokesman for the Ministry said the costs were linked to the renovation of the headquarters, located on the third floor of the General Post Office Building, and the Government Administration Building.

“The objective of this renovation is to provide contemporary and efficiently designed work environments for approximately 60 staff,” the spokesman said. “You should also be advised that the Ministry has contacted the private sector to assess second hand furniture and three to four different companies have been contacted.”

The headquarters of the Ministry of Public Works is temporarily based on the ground floor of Global House, Church Street.

Responding to parliamentary questions on the subject last year, Junior Minister for Public Works Lynn Woolridge told the Senate that $2,172,157 had been allocated to renovate the Public Works headquarters, with work scheduled to conclude at the end of next month.

During the renovation period, the Department of Works and Engineering was moved to the Brown Brangman Building, with a monthly rent of $5,378, while the Accounts section has been relocated to 61-63 Victoria Street. The rent paid for that space was originally $11,000 per month, but that sum was reduced to $6,500 per month last May.