The GSD have issued a statement calling on Government for clarification following the recent flooding at the Immigration and Home Affairs Office.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

The Government is asked to explain in greater detail what provoked the recent closure of the Immigration and Home Affairs Office beyond simply that there was “significant flooding”.

It should be recalled that this is another Government office which has been moved into privately owned premises and for which the taxpayer is paying an annual rental fee, as at February of last year, of £217, 680 on a 9-year lease. This amount represents a monthly charge to the Government of £18,140.

Damon Bossino said: “Quite apart from the obvious value for money considerations which arise in the context of the housing of this particular department and which the GSD has also been highlighting in relation to the old Dockyard building, legitimate questions are being raised about how it is possible that the operation of such a Department – responsible for registrations of births, deaths, residency, marriages etc., - should be compromised for a full day after a mere 8/9 months since the move was effected to what were described as modern offices.”

The GSD reminds the Government that the Chief Minister, in defending the policy of moving Government offices to private properties referred to their maintenance to modern standards as being “someone else’s responsibility”. The Government therefore needs to also state what measures, if any, it will be taking against the landlord. The taxpayer deserves nothing less.