ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Another Antiguan landmark may soon be set for the bulldozer, as the government forges ahead with proposals to revamp parts of the capital city of St John’s.
A recent study recommended that the building housing the General Post Office be torn down or refurbished to improve its appearance.
It’s the second building facing being razed to the ground under the development plans, some of which have sparked public outcry.
The man tasked with overseeing the scheme, chairman of the St John’s Development Corporation (SJDC) Sylvester Browne, said, “The recommendation is that the post office be torn down.”
Browne, while speaking on OBSERVER Radio’s Voice of the People programme, said the building was not structurally sound and the space it occupies is not properly utilised.
The other building earmarked for demolition currently houses the Ministry of Health, located on High and Long streets.
A number of people have spoken out against the demolition of the building that is being used by the health ministry. They include Opposition Leader Lester Bird, who threatened legal action if the government follows through with its plans.
Bird said the old administration building has much historical value and can not be destroyed without a public hearing and public agreement, under a 1986 law he shepherded through parliament.
Another of his Antigua Labour Party cohorts, Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst, previously warned the SJDC chairman that going through with the plan was tantamount to a “sin against God and the people of Antigua & Barbuda.”
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
If the building is unsafe it should go before the staff or customers are injured.
Should the General Post Office be in town?
No.
The sorting office and the headquarters of the Post Office no longer needs to be close to the seaport. The incoming mail now comes by air and local mail can be sorted anywhere.
A modern secure sorting office can be located anywhere and provided that much needed parking for customers, staff and post office vans.
A ‘commercial’ post office is needed somewhere in town but could be anywhere.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have no problem with the post office being torn down as a much more useful structure of multiple stories can be built there but i have a serious issue with destroying the Admin Building since even though i am not a building inspector, i am sure the roof and other vast improvements can be done to bring it up to 21st century requirements without spending a fortune.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The building is not Historical it’s hysterical that we would consider the building a big deal to save it. It’s not an attractive building. It is actually a pretty ugly building that has grown on us like a fungus. This would be an excellent opportunity for youth to show their skills and design a new post office to take us into the future. One that is properly planned with good space to keep packages and conduct the business of a post office. It’s also time we re-think the process of putting stamps on things to conduct business. We pay a stamp tax but don’t use them? nonsense but I digress.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
These are the leaders that we want back in power….Antigua will never progress because every time there is a plan to fix, refurbish or tear down a building to make way for something new there come the naysayers. Everything in Antigua is historical when you look at, we the people want to see progress. It’s more than time for St. John’s become an up to date city we are in 2012.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
That Post Office building has seen better days. Any visitor going in there to buy stamps must think Antigua is some kind of backwards country to hold out such dilapidated premises as it’s main Post Office.
Please do tell us where the new one will be!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Seem Backward? LOL
Like or Dislike:
0 
0