National Assembly Building Undergoing $1.9 Million Renovations 

Five decades after it was constructed, the National Assembly Building is undergoing some major renovations. As a result, its operations are being relocated to the George Price Centre. That is where House and Senate meetings will be taking place for the next twelve months. During that period, the National Assembly Building’s interior will undergo an entire facelift valued at one point nine million Belize dollars. Most of the funds came as a donation from the Republic of China, Taiwan. We spoke with Speaker of the House of Representatives Valerie Woods who gave us further insight into the renovation works.

 

Valerie Woods, Speaker, House of Representatives

“So it is a mixture of making it modernized, making sure it has improved accessibility by way of a lift, an elevator, making sure we address some of the issues within electricals and the roofings and so many other things that haven’t been attended for these five decades. So, for that to be done properly requires everything to be taken out. The structure itself won’t be demolished. They are working within. And strengthening where they need to strengthen but at the same time redo what needs to be redone. So what we intend to do based on the various consultations that MIDH has had with not only the user but also with the technocrats, the engineers, and electricians and so forth is to improve that rectangle design, the space where the media is, the galleries, with particular attention to make it accessible. And then to improve the space for the members but not changing the entire design because of the confines, unless we are demolishing. In an ideal setting it would be great if there were sufficient resources to allow for a complete haul over and even additional buildings. You have to remember that the parliamentary estate was built for eighteen people, and we are at thirty-one and with a staff of about eleven or twelve.”