Sir Lloyd’s vision ‘justified’

THE HEAVY DEMAND for use of the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre has justified building that facility, says Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, noting that Sir Lloyd Sandiford must be commended for his vision.

She expressed the view yesterday in the Senate as she described the Two Mile Hill conference facility as “the most important linchpin in Barbados’ meeting conferences and entertainment activities”.

Speaking on a resolution to approve the lease to Barbados Conference Services Ltd. of the Crown lands on which the new $9 million multi-storied car park has been built, Sandiford-Garner said demand for the centre had grown exponentially since it was constructed in 1994.

She gave the Upper Chamber an update on the expansion of the facility over the last eight years, including the construction of a $43 million four-storied office complex in the unfinished section of the original Sherbourne Conference Centre.

The Government senator said the offices represented over 73 000 square feet of “lettable commercial space” and they would be temporarily occupied by seven Government departments now located at Government Headquarters on Bay Street. She said those offices were being retrofitted to accommodate departments that would include the Prime Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Office, which would operate from the centre over the 15 months of renovations at Government Headquarters.

She said the present closure of the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium had resulted in the centre being the only such venue available and had highlighted the need for a larger indoor entertainment facility in the future. (GC)