After more than a month of working from home, staff from the Ministry of Social Transformation may soon have a new place to call their office. The government is currently renovating a building in Friendly Alley, St John’s, to house several departments of the ministry.

The Ministry of Social Transformation, one of the government’s largest, provides crucial services ranging from counselling for troubled youth to support for victims of sexual violence. However, these essential services were disrupted when over 100 staff members were displaced from their former Old Parham Road offices several weeks ago.

The displacement was reportedly due to the government’s failure to pay rent and the deteriorating condition of the building. Junior Social Transformation Minister Samantha Marshall had previously told Observer that she requested relocation last year due to inadequate working conditions, including a lack of air-conditioning.

Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph has announced that staff are expected to move into the refurbished building by the end of next week. An informal visit to the new offices revealed that work has begun, with interior repainting underway. Plans include installing new AC units, replacing the kitchen and bathrooms, and providing new furniture.

However, there is still work to be done, with some areas yet to be retiled and all rooms currently empty. While Minister Joseph’s timeline may be optimistic, employees are eager to return to work and resume providing vital services to the public.

This move represents a step towards resolving the issues that have hindered the ministry’s operations and public access to crucial social services. The new location in the heart of St John’s could potentially improve accessibility for those in need of the ministry’s services.