ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The Development Control Authority (DCA) is insisting that a stop notice issued last week on construction at the Antigua Public Utilities Authority’s (APUA) new headquarters in the city remains in effect.
The reaffirmation came yesterday shortly after APUA chairman Clarvis Joseph told OBSERVER Media the DCA had “withdrawn their statement.”
He also played down DCA claims that in carrying out the construction, the contractors had made major amendments to the drawings approved by the department.
“No changes have been made to the design. All we did is change from one set of materials to another set of materials,” Joseph said.
“That has been communicated to the DCA. They have withdrawn their statement so that is not an issue. That is my understanding.”
But reliable sources from the DCA who wished to remain anonymous maintained that construction at the former Bencorp Building on High Street would remain stalled until APUA provides the requested updated drawings. They were quick to add that the utilities company “is working hard to get the requisite drawings to us.”
OBSERVER Media was told the structural changes include the construction of a generator house at the top of the multi-storey building and the reinforcement of the building’s walls.
The company has been working towards relocating its workers from the present location at Cassada Gardens to the new city headquarters by July.
In the middle of March this year, APUA said the ground floor was almost complete and the exterior of the building was about 80 per cent finished with “significant work” still to be carried out on the other four levels.
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
