Where is the logic in spending all that money?

Dear Editor,

Having read Sunday’s Kaieteur News headline captioned “More than US$5M needed to retrofit Ocean View Hotel” I couldn’t help but wonder where is the logic in spending all that money to fix someone else’s property when much less can be spent on your own with better result: – The Government owned incomplete and abandoned building at High and Princes street should have been re-purposed for the COVID-19 Hospital.

Less taxpayer’s money
– The government owned 60000 sf building can be structurally and functionally fixed and fitted out at between USD 50 to 60/sf for an overall cost of USD 3 to 3.6M
The less than 60000 Ocean View Hotel is in excess of 20 years old and will have many hidden faults that will only become known as the works are opened up and the extent of any damage becomes visible. These unknown can result in cost escalations that normally range between 50 to 100%. So be warned what is now a USD 5M project could very quickly become USD 10M through no fault of the contractor.

Quick and easy adaptation
-The Government owned building is an open shell and therefore could be easily and quickly be fitted out for its intended purpose without the cost and time associated with demolition works. – Not so with the Ocean View where a substantial amount of demolition has to take place if it’s to be purpose built as intended.

No acquisition cost
– Selecting this building should have been a no brainer. Where is the logic in spending unknown millions to acquire property, spend a further 5M and counting to fix it, when you have an idle building of your own that could be fixed, repurposed and fitted out for much less?

Concerned Building Professional