Govt. buildings to be examined
used by the civil service can be better utilised.
The announcement comes after it was revealed that the offices of one Government department recently had to be examined by a Government health and safety officer.
The results of the inspection of the former Bishop Spencer School building on Glebe Road, Pembroke -- which now houses several departments of the Ministry of Education -- are being kept under wraps.
But it is understood that air quality is a major concern to staff working in the offices.
When contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday, health officer Doris Foley Millet would only say: "An inspection has been carried out and issues are being addressed.'' But last night Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott confirmed that a review of all Government buildings would be carried out shortly by his Ministry.
"We are reviewing all Government space and the utilisation of same,'' Mr.
Scott said. "The Bishop Spencer building, we feel, is not in a good state of repair and also at this stage we feel that the space can be more effectively used.
"We are reluctant to put people in there until it has been given a clean bill of health.
"The Premier has given us the task of not only reviewing the requirements of the Education Department, but all Government departments and how we house them and come up with a plan for the future.'' Last December, Premier Jennifer Smith, who was also Education Minister at the time, condemned the facilities at the Ministry's Paget headquarters as "deplorable''.
And she gave civil servants her pledge to improve their working environment.