Roadtown, Tortola - The relocation of the Department of Information and Public Relations and the Department of Immigration moved one step closer to reality today with the signing of contracts for the construction and outfitting of the new office space in the Scatturn Building.

Premier and Minister for Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE signed four contracts with three local companies this morning that will pave the way for the departments to relocate in the near future.

Two of the contracts are with Wheatley Construction Limited for the construction of new offices for both departments on the ground, first and fifth floors of the new building. The contracts valued at $398,641.50 for the Department of Immigration and $140,019 for the Department of Information and Public Relations were signed by the Ludwis Allen Wheatley, owner of the company and witnessed by Jason Fonseca.

The other two contracts are for the acquisition and installation of furnishing for both departments. Under its contract worth $265,085.89 and payable in four instalments, Island Services BVI Limited will outfit the Department of Immigration while CBB Enterprises (2004) Limited will do the same for Department of Information and Public Relations at a cost of $182,832.

Managing Director of Island Services Ms. Nelda Farrington signed on behalf of her company while Mr. Maurice Donovan signed for his company, CBB Enterprises.

After signing the agreement, Honourable O’Neal congratulated all the local business owners and reiterated Government’s commitment to ensuring that as many companies as possible benefit from its contracts.

“No one company should get everything. One of the policies of Government is that the small man must rise and shine and it is Government’s hope that with projects like these, the small man will in fact rise,” he told the businesses owners and their witnesses at the brief ceremony.

The Premier also expressed his delight with the fact that all the contracts are with local companies. “I am particularly proud to see all Virgin Islands companies signing these contracts and that they will benefit from the good that the contracts yield,” he said.
All three companies expressed their gratitude for Government’s selection of them to provide the contracted services.

Mr. Wheatley described it as “an opportunity to showcase the company’s skills and talents” and also gave assurances that the work will be done expeditiously. “We have a good understanding that this project needs to be completed sooner rather than later; we have already conducted site visits and reviewed the schematics and we expect that work will commence as early as tomorrow,” he told the Premier.

Ms. Farrington of Island Services said her company “looks forward to doing its part to make the overall project a success.” Like Mr. Wheatley, she also promised to work expeditiously.

In his brief remarks, Mr. Donovan offered similar assurances and pledged to work collaboratively with Wheatley Construction Limited. “I am thankful that the Government is mindful of sharing and we at CBB Enterprises will work collaboratively with Wheatley Construction to ensure the success of the project.” 

The relocation of the two departments is in keeping with Government’s commitment to provide improved office accommodations, ensuring that public servants are provided with an environment conducive to effectively and efficiently serving the public. As a department that interfaces with the public daily, it is expected that the additional space provided for the Department of Immigration at the new location will better accommodate the high volume of traffic which the department experiences daily.