Former National Bank of Anguilla building in The Valley.
ANGUILLA--After Hurricane Irma many Government buildings and offices in Anguilla were damaged or destroyed. It has been decided to use the former National Bank of Anguilla (NBA) building in The Valley for many of the departments. The plan was decided even before Hurricane Irma, Chief Minister Victor Banks reported.
“I made a plan before the hurricane that we should occupy the premises of the National Bank of Anguilla building by December. That’s a plan that is ongoing and it has been hastened, I believe, [by the urgent need brought on by Hurricane Irma – Ed.], but I think we need to take our time and occupy those premises in a proper way. Obviously, a number of things have got to be done to make it fit for the purpose – and that it is energy efficient as well.”
He said it provides the Government the ability to do a comprehensive master plan for the development of modern office accommodations to optimise productivity and reduce cost. Banks describes it as a lease-purchase arrangement.
Banks said that based on the amount of rent being paid by Government, plus energy cost, the NBA building as the new Government of Anguilla headquarters would represent considerable savings and efficiencies. He noted that these would be achieved in terms of communication systems, electricity cost and having departments close together as a one-stop location for such facilities as Customs, Immigration and Inland Revenue. “This would make for a better and more efficient delivery of Government services,” he added.
