Government signs architectural contract for commercial court

Premier and Minister for Finance Hon.Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE and Mr. Roger Downing (seated to the left of the Premier) pose for a group photo after appending their signatures to the contract for the provision of consultancy and architectural services for the commercial court on November 24, 2008. Also pictured are Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs. Rosalie Adams, (seated to the right of the Premier); Ms. Ruth Solas of Roger Downing and Partner Company Limited; Sister Islands Coordinator Mr. Vincent Wheatley and Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office Ms. Julia Christopher (standing, left to right) Photo Credit: Mr. Aldrin Rabsatt/GIS

Premier and Minister for Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE signed the contract yesterday with Mr. Roger Downing of the firm, Roger Downing and Partner Company Limited.

The contracted company will provide services such as the outline and final designs, development of tender documents and site inspection for the commercial court.

Honourable O’Neal explained that the “contract is for the design and supervision of the building being renovated that will become the commercial court, not only for the BVI but also for other Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions of which we are a part.”

The Premier further stated that “it is a great privilege for us here in the BVI to have a commercial court where cases from St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, St.Lucia, Antigua, Montserrat, St.Kitts and Anguilla will be heard.”

According to the Premier, the fact that the commercial court will be part of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is “great news and a big achievement for the British Virgin Islands.”

Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Rosalie Adams who performed the dual role of witnessing the contract signing and chairing the ceremony, described it as a good move. She said “it is the next step in the process that will make the commercial court a reality.”

After appending his signature to the contract, Mr. Downing revealed that the working drawings for the project have already been completed. “It will be a very sophisticated building” he said, “at this point, everything is ready, the drawings, the specifications have all been done, ready to go out for tender.”   ~~Adz:Right~~

Mr. Downing went on to state that they are now finishing off on the interior designs, the furniture and the fittings. “There are a lot of specifications we have to comply with, even down to the furniture which have to be specified and approved by the court system in the United Kingdom,” he stated.

He noted too that preparations are now underway for the demolition of the building which previously housed the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and which will be the location for the new commercial court.

Also present at Monday’s contract signing were Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office Ms. Julia Christopher and Sister Islands Coordinator, Mr. Vincent Wheatley. Ms. Ruth Solas witnessed the signing on behalf of the contracted firm.

A project under the Deputy Governor’s Office, the commercial court is scheduled for completion in June 2009. The objective of the project is to create a world class court of which the BVI can be proud and which will attract new, high-end, commercial business to the Territory.