-by Nakasia Logan

After years of painstaking restoration and an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars, Georgetown’s iconic City Hall is now in its final phase of completion.

The Local Government Ministry, in collaboration with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, is addressing outstanding works at both City Hall and the Council’s Administrative Building, with the goal of returning both facilities to full operation.

Restoration of the Gothic Revival landmark began in 2021 under a $780 million contract, focusing on structural strengthening, roof and ceiling replacement, woodwork and façade repairs to preserve its historical grandeur.

Mayor Alfred Mentore, updating councilors at a recent statutory meeting on the building’s status, revealed that Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand indicated restoration work is now at the stage of final touches.

“There’s also some outstanding variations  that the other contractors would have done and I think they are resolving that and rather than trying to give back the same person additional work they are looking at moving outside of that so they could give the other adjusted work to finalise that,” he said.

While the building itself approaches completion, attention has turned to the condition of the City Hall compound. 

The Mayor noted that the government has offered to assist with the cost of resurfacing the compound.

“The contractor would have broken up a lot of the compound when the work was actually going on. So, we would need from the engineer, the Minster did ask for the cost and the government would add it to her cost to be able to recap the compound,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Council’s Administrative Building is also in focus, where additional resources could be made available to complete outstanding works and restore the facility.

“We will out our own resources I believed its over 100 million dollars I guess, but we will do as much we could do with our funds and whatever is left back, she gave me an undertaking that she will look at it and see whatever else has to be done.

Once completed, is expected to return full functionality to the City Hall compound.

Built between 1887 and 1889 city hall stands at 29.3 meters or96 feet high, 27.1 meters long and 17.4 meters wide.