Former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government minister and parliamentarian Annette Ferguson is demanding an updated account from Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill on the progress, expenditure and contractor arrangements for the multibillion-dollar Government Office Complex at Haags Bosch.
Speaking from the construction site, Ferguson questioned the pace of work on the project, which is intended to accommodate approximately 6,000 government employees across four 12-storey towers. The project is being constructed by Caribbean Green Building Inc. and is being financed by the government.
Pointing to the steel structure at the site, Ferguson said the project has been under construction for several years but, in her assessment, remains behind schedule.
“But if you look at the back of where I’m standing, the steel structure is up. But this project has been ongoing for close to getting to four years now.”
She recalled that billions of dollars had already been approved for the development and questioned what she described as the limited visible progress.
“I know just before the 12th Parliament ended, $8.7 billion was actually approved for this project. Now we’re in 2026, and I think the 2026 budget approved some $1.2 billion. So that’s also $10 billion for this particular project, and we’re not seeing much progress.”
Official government records put the full contract value at approximately $15.874 billion, awarded to Caribbean Green Building Inc. The Public Works Ministry said in February 2026 that about 49 per cent of the project had been completed, with a revised completion deadline of January 2027.
The ministry said at the time that all structural steel required for the project was on site, with Towers One and Two reaching the eighth and ninth floors and Towers Three and Four reaching the sixth and seventh floors. It also said construction had been accelerated through a 24-hour work cycle.
Ferguson, however, questioned why taxpayers have not received more regular public updates on the project’s progress.
“Minister Bishop Edghill can apply state taxpayers’ citizens money is being funded by taxpayers. You can come and update taxpayers on the status of this project, and me you’re going to road, you’re going to road, the mound, you’re going to show base bridges, but you’re missing this particular project? Why is it that you’re avoiding this particular project, Mr Edghill?”
The project has faced scrutiny since its approval, including questions from Ferguson during her time in Parliament over expenditure, progress and the identity and operations of the contractor.
Parliamentary records show that the contract for the office complex was awarded for $15,874,143,300 to Caribbean Green Building Incorporated.
In September 2024, reporting based on budget documents indicated that $6.699 billion had been expended on the project by that stage, including $2.654 billion in 2022 and $4.045 billion in 2023.
Ferguson also questioned the continued involvement and visibility of Caribbean Green Building Inc., saying she observed few workers at the site.
“And perhaps it is time for you to tell us about the contractor. The contractor that was awarded this contract, Caribbean Green Buildings, I think some company out of Trinidad and Tobago. But if you look, you hardly see any workers.”
She acknowledged that some work was visible but argued that the level of activity did not appear consistent with the amount of money committed to the project.
“Yes, some progress is being made, but you hardly see any workers on the work site.”
The government has previously rejected claims that the project was not progressing. In February, the Public Works Ministry said the development was approaching the halfway mark and that additional measures had been introduced to meet the January 2027 deadline.
Ferguson is nevertheless pressing Edghill for greater disclosure, particularly on the project’s current cost, construction schedule and contractor arrangements.
“I’m calling on Bishop Edghill to just let us know what is happening to this cost, $10 billion of taxpayers’ money that is being used to fund this project that is actually behind time. It is lagging, lagging, lagging.”
The Government Office Complex is intended to centralise ministries and agencies currently operating from multiple locations and expand the state’s administrative capacity. With the project’s original completion timetable having been revised, scrutiny is now focused on whether the January 2027 deadline will be met and whether the remaining works will be delivered within the approved contract value.
Ferguson is calling for an updated public accounting of the project’s expenditure, progress, workforce and contractor arrangements, arguing that taxpayers who are funding the development are entitled to clear answers
