Interested parties have just two more weeks to submit tenders to design a key element of Montserrat’s civic infrastructure – a new parliament building.
The government posted an ‘invitation to tender’ for design consultancy services on 4 December and the closing date is 28 February.
Candidates with Caribbean or international experience in designing parliamentary or similar buildings and commercial spaces are urged to apply.
“The design must be context-appropriate whilst creating a sense of architectural and civic presence,” an introduction to the invitation says.
“It must enable the effective and efficient functioning of a modern legislative assembly, and serve as a culturally significant and accessible space for visitors and local residents.”
The design will primarily focus on developing a “fit-for-purpose” building near the Montserrat Cultural Centre in Little Bay.
It must reflect the users’ needs, parliamentary protocols, culture, sustainability, and have the potential to be considered an icon within the island’s architectural landscape.
The winning bidder will be expected to develop concept designs, spatial coordination, and technical, final designs for the project, as well as cost estimates.
‘Unfit-for-purpose’
Following the eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995, all government services were evacuated to the safe zone, according to the invitation to tender.
Ever since then, the parliament building and the office of the legislature have hosted operations in multiple temporary and “unfit-for-purpose” accommodations, it says.
Currently the parliament, constitution and commissions secretariat, and office of the opposition are renting separate facilities to maintain office operations.
Sittings of parliament are taking place in a makeshift chamber within the auditorium of the Montserrat Cultural Centre.
“The inadequacy and operational inefficiency of the current accommodation structure is well-evidenced,” the invitation to tender says.
And that is supported by the experience of members of the legislature and associated staff.
The construction of a new parliament building is included in the Little Bay Masterplan, with a land parcel allocated to the north of the cultural centre.
It is also supported by Montserrat’s Sustainable Development Plan, and Montserrat’s Economic Growth Strategy 2017.
The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office is funding the project with a £2 million allocation from the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth.
Dignity of parliament
Talking to the Government Information Unit Montserrat in January, Charliena White, Speaker of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly, the new parliament building will be a positive step forward.
“We know that the parliamentary democracy is something that is very important to the free countries like Montserrat, and for almost 30 years we have been without a parliamentary home,” she said.
“We think that that has had a negative impact on our society, because what we have right now is really not tenable. It’s not secure and it is not fit for purpose.”
She said members of the legislature are looking forward to having a building represents the dignity and authority of a parliament.
The speaker suggested that Little Bay is the appropriate location because the new port is being constructed there, and other developments are expected to come in the future.
“We’re looking quite forward to a really beautiful building. which reflects the authority of parliament, the dignity of parliament, and also attract visitors to it when they get here,” she said.
