Procurement Coordinator, Mrs. Ishma Rhymer said the Government is asking that interested, resourceful, experienced and competent development contractors or consortia to submit their interest as a part of the prequalification process so that a short list of qualified contractors may be prepared.

Mrs. Rhymer added that the project is envisioned to be fully constructed and operational by 2022 and is encouraging interested parties to thoroughly review ‘Expressions of Interest No. 24 of 2019’. Submissions should be delivered to the issuing officer no later than February 4, 2020.

The Palm Grove Shopping Centre was destroyed by hurricane Irma, but even before the hurricane, there were concerns about asbestos in certain areas. This caused the buildings to lay in ruins for months until they were finally demolished last year.

In October last year, it was explained that the area had to be leveled because the buildings had become structurally unsound. It was noted that the present state of the area inconvenienced a number of the tenants who would like to return.

Last year during a Standing Finance Committee meeting, Legislators were told that the plans for the centre indicated that the structures should not be re-built as they were and that meetings have been held with the current leaseholders.