PHILIPSBURG–Taxpayers may be in for a bit of relief on the rent they are paying to house Members of Parliament in three of the four floors of the former Caribbean Palm building situated on Front Street and Wilhelminastraat.
Parliament Chairwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams told the press on Monday a new lease for the Parliament House “is being negotiated” with the building owner. “We have reached an agreement on the continuation of the lease and a reduction.”
How much the reduction will be from the current hefty price tag of US $96,100 per month was not disclosed by Wescot-Williams. Her reason for this is Parliament has requested some “possible adjustments” to the building and that cost, once agreed on will impact the final lease price.
The rental price is broken down into two parts: US $60,000 for the rental of the space and US $36,100 to compensate the owners for investments made to prepare the building in 2010. The monthly rent is based on square footage and the initial investment made by the owners to make the building suitable for the Parliament, with fraction offices, meeting rooms and separate offices for each of the 15 parliamentarians.
The current lease is set to end in August.
Planning for a permanent, not rented location for Parliament House is the task of an Ad Hoc Committee of Parliament. That committee is set to meet on Thursday in a closed session to review strides made so far. MPs will discuss a location, among which is the old Government Administration Building in front of Clem Labega Square and finding financing for the project.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/65969-possible-lower-lease-for-parliament-house
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