Forum hotel being viewed as HQ for Portmore Council

Local Government Ministry officials are eyeing the Forum Hotel in St Catherine as a possible headquarters for the Portmore Municipal Council.

The suggestion was put forward by Local Government Minister Noel Arscott during a recent familiarisation visit to the Council.

The Council has been actively pursuing efforts to find a new headquarters.

Several other issues were raised during the meeting with the officials in the Municipality.

They include a vector control programme, gazetting of Portmore roads and drain cleaning and road maintenance.

The Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme or JDIP was also discussed.

Minister Arscott noted that he was aware of the Council's key priority of owning their own Municipal building.

This move he adds will translate to savings in rental costs, as well as allow for the residents of the Municipality to be better served.

Mr. Arscott says he's prepared to open talks with the Urban Development Corporation, owners of the Forum Hotel as it relates to the feasibility of the proposal.

The Local Government minister says his vision for the Council is for the Forum hotel to be a commercial centre piece that would attract more business to Portmore, and also serve as a source of revenue.

In the meantime a joint approach is being pursued with related Ministries to tackle the matter of vector control.

Mr. Arscott added that three million dollars was approved last month to assist in fogging as an interim measure, and is part of a wider programme that would be undertaken to seriously address the problem