Office of PM returning to Whitehall

According to an outline of projects on its website, the Urban Development Company of TT (Udecott) indicated, “This building will be reused as the Office of the Prime Minister.” Whitehall, purchased in October 1954 for use as the OPM, was vacated in 2009 to allow for restoration works and the OPM was relocated to 13-15 St Clair Avenue, St Clair. Restoration work continues and no timeframe has been set for the return of the OPM to this building.

Udecott said Whitehall holds an integral place in this country’s history and was central to several key events including TT’s role in World War II. The company has been mandated to do further restoration works and outfitting upgrades on Whitehall and the Mews buildings located at the rear of the property, including construction and outfitting of a reception and service building and resident staff facility, internal building works, external works, specialty works such as architectural refurbishment, roofing works, and landscaping.

In February, a special Cabinet committee was created to oversee the restoration of historic buildings such as Whitehall, the Red House, Stollmeyer’s Castle and Mille Fleurs.

The committee is chaired by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Other members include Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Planning Minister Camille Robinson- Regis.

Former prime minister Patrick Manning, who died on July 2, had plans to relocate the Office of the Prime Minister to the Red House, and to have a museum there as well. The Parliament is currently being housed at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre. It will be returning to the Red House once restoration works there are complete.