~ SZV, APS to acquire building for NAf. 45 million ~
PHILIPSBURG--The various Government departments will be able to relocate to the new Government Administration Building on Pond Island by mid-2016 if everything goes as planned, ending years of the building sitting uncompleted and unoccupied.
Prime Minister William Marlin told reporters on Wednesday that Government had come to an arrangement with Social and Health Care Insurances SZV and general pension fund APS whereby the two organisations would acquire ownership of the building for NAf. 45 million as a special arrangement to offset debts Government owes the two organisations dating back many years (see related story).
The intention is for the two organisations to complete and furnish the building. Government will then lease the building from the two organisations. Government is expected to save in rental cost once the new building has been occupied.
Marlin said his personal desire was for the various Ministries to relocate to the building by the end of May/June. However, he said he had been advised that a more realistic timeframe would be around July. He expressed hope that Government and the various Ministries would be able to move into the building before the end of July.
Marlin, who was scheduled to meet with the interim director of SZV on Wednesday, said Government was committed to realising the completion of the new Government Building that has been pending and handled by different Governments in the past years.
