THE PARLIAMENTARY Salaries Review Committee (PSRC) has concluded that Gordon House is an inadequate building to house Members of Parliament because of its poor research facilities, lack of adequate space, and middling telecommunications facilities.However, this is not exactly news as a Government-commissioned report conducted 30 years ago drew similar conclusions.
The Oliver Clarke-chaired PSRC which submitted its report to parliament late last week highlights that:
Gordon House was never built to become the permanent home of the Houses of Parliament nor was it completed according to the architect's original design. It was built as the Council Chamber and Municipal Offices of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
The space allocation at Gordon House is quite inadequate for the staff and the members.
The research facilities are virtually non-existent with the small library over-flowing its confines. There are only two officers to provide research services to the 81 members of both Houses.
There are only two conference rooms, one for the Government members and one for the Opposition.
There is one telephone in the Government's conference room and recently the addition of one computer with Internet access.
MPs have no private space to see or phone facilities to communicate with their constituents.
The Prime Minister, the Leader of Government Business in the House and the Leader of the Opposition all have offices that are extremely small and do not appear to be adequate.
There is no accommodation given in respect of access and equipment for persons with physical disability.
According to the report, an estimate done by the Urban Development Corporation, indicates that it would cost approximately $65 million to extend the current structure.
In 1999, Cabinet approved the establishment of a new Parliament building to be constructed at National Heroes' Park in Kingston as part of a phased development of the Park.
