By Lorraine Mendez
The Office of the Prime Minister says the government is effecting temporary protective works at the Vale Royal property.
Interest groups have from time to time raised concern about the plans for the property, which is the official residence of the Prime Minister.
Public discourse was recently renewed following a video on social media showing the dilapidated Vale Royal building.
In response, OPM indicated that in recent times, successive prime ministers have not opted to reside at the over 300-year-old property as the facilities are insufficient.
It said in 2013, the building was assessed as having significant structural problems that would limit its use adding that routine repair work would not be sufficient and extensive rehabilitation would be required.
The government said given Vale Royal's status as a heritage site, options for its repair or rehabilitation must be carefully considered.
A team from the Jamaica National Heritage Trust recently conducted a site inspection and will be submitting a report for assessment.
Proposals for Vale Royal have included the re-purposing of the facility to include a library and museum that would be a repository of documents and memorabilia of all Prime Ministers of Jamaica and the development of a protocol complex to host visiting dignitaries.
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