Former CIBC building to become location of National Archives (photo by Google)
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved a proposal from the Minister for Works to repair and retrofit the former Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) building at the corner of High Street and Corn Alley in St. John’s.
Once the work is completed, the building will be repurposed to house the National Archives of Antigua and Barbuda.
The decision comes amid growing concerns about the condition of the current National Archives facility, which has been experiencing serious structural issues. Officials say the problems have raised safety concerns for staff and pose a risk to the preservation of valuable historical documents, records, and artifacts.
By relocating the archives to the refurbished CIBC building, the government aims to provide a safer and more secure environment for materials that document the country’s history and development.
Cabinet officials indicated that the move will help ensure the long-term protection and proper storage of national records, while also improving the working conditions for employees responsible for maintaining the country’s historical collections.
is this temporary as the present building was specifically built to house the archives..why not repair the existing building…
Taxpayers pocket again. The government is moving from it owned building into a rental facility. The government needs to implement a maintenance department within Public Works to carry out regular preventive and corrective maintenance on all its buildings/facilities. Public Works has the skills and knowledgeable staff ready to do these maintenance inspections and repairs before a building became deployable to work in.