More than 150 workers from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) are expected to report for work at Capital Plaza, Port-of-Spain, next week. For several months during the past year, the workers have been signing the register and returning home because they had no physical space to work. Other workers have been housed at an office on Park Street, Port-of-Spain.
Capital Plaza is owned by the Nicholas Group. Government is also renting office space from the same group at Nicholas Towers and on Independence Square. The Customs Division is located on Independence Square. The CSO was previously housed at Furness Building on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. It was declared unfit for human occupation by the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) in May 2013 because of electrical problems and leaks in the building.
The majority of the employees were relocated to offices on Park Street, Port-of-Spain, where they still work. Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie said yesterday the workers are to be accommodated on two floors at Capital Plaza, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, on a temporary basis.
Tewarie could not say exactly how long they would work there and also could not say what was the monthly rental of the plaza but insisted that it was “within government’s limit.” He said the workers were preparing to move in next week. According to Tewarie: “Early in the new year the workers are expected to be relocated to a new building at upper Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.”
He said the Government could not continue to have about 100 workers stay at home because there was no physical space to accommodate them. Tewarie said negotiations were taking place to have new premises, located at upper Frederick Street, rented for a period of five years. He said the entire CSO staff would be housed at that location when it became available shortly.
Other CSO staff with responsibility for the GDP, trade, inflation and unemployment data continue to work from offices on Park Street. CSO staff are responsible for censuses and collecting, compiling, analysing and publishing statistical information relating to all social and economic activities of citizens.