00:00The Ministry of Tourism and Culture announced on Monday that Cabinet has
00:05agreed inter alia to the construction of Pantranbego's headquarters at the
00:09General Post Office site on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, currently occupied by
00:15the Surveys and Mapping Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and
00:19Fisheries. In a statement, the Culture Ministry said that in consultation with
00:24the Ministry of Finance, it has identified funding of an estimated $120
00:30million over the projected period for construction of the Pantranbego
00:35headquarters, to start with an allocation to be determined in fiscal year 2025-
00:422026. The government's next budget will be for fiscal year 2024-2025. The next
00:50election is due during the calendar year 2025. The Ministry's statement was
00:57accompanied by images of the proposed design for the new Pantranbego
01:01headquarters, following an announcement by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who
01:05confirmed these construction plans, as he delivered opening remarks at the
01:10Pantranbego Orchestra Finals competition on Sunday. The Ministry said the
01:16proposed headquarters will be a six-story Class A mixed-use building
01:21featuring, but not limited to, office spaces for Pantranbego, the Ministry of
01:26Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Tourism Trinidad Limited and the National
01:30Carnival Commission, a theatre auditorium with 300 seats for performances and
01:36recordings, a Pan Museum and Interpretive Center, conference rooms and meeting
01:41rooms, rooftop entertainment area, gift shop, cafeteria and parking facilities.
01:47The Ministry said it is proposed that state entities being housed at the
01:52building will not be required to pay rent to Pantranbego for a period of up
01:57to 50 years, but rather maintenance and other related common fees as negotiated
02:03by the respective parties. However, the Ministry said it is anticipated that the
02:09theatre auditorium, Pan Museum, gift shop, rooftop and cafeteria will earn
02:14additional revenue for Pantranbego. The Culture Ministry said at present the
02:19land space identified on Wrightson Road is approximately 44,347
02:26square feet and the existing building on the site is deemed not suitable for the
02:31proposed accommodations and will be demolished. The Ministry also said
02:36Pantranbego will be the owner of this land and the property to be constructed
02:41thereon and will establish a special purpose company responsible for
02:45administration, maintenance, rental and other logistical tasks relative to the
02:51building's use. The Culture Ministry noted that the title of the eight acre
02:55parcel in TrinCity provided to Pantranbego by the then government in
02:592001 was never properly transferred to Pantranbego. Jule Brown, TV6 News.
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