PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Dr Luc Mercelina says government should move toward buying buildings rather than continually renting properties from third parties, with the long-term goal of leaving the country with government-owned assets.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday following the submission of the draft 2027 budget to Parliament, Mercelina said government first needs to establish a complete overview of the buildings it currently rents and review the contracts associated with those properties.
He said government historically did not maintain proper administration and oversight of the properties it rented, but work has now started to reorganize the oversight of government rentals.
Mercelina said government is working to determine what buildings it is renting, which properties are necessary, what can be changed and what is no longer needed. The intention is to first “sanitise” the rental portfolio before considering the purchase of properties that government needs for the future.
“My priority of course, and I think that is known, is I would like for government to step over to more buying of buildings instead of renting of buildings,” Mercelina said.
He said the government is negotiating with general pension fund administrator APS to explore a partnership that could assist with financing projects or potentially help government obtain ownership of buildings rather than continuing to rent them.
Mercelina said government ownership of properties would allow future generations to see that the government has assets under its control rather than constantly renting from third parties.
He said the first step is to establish proper inventory and oversight of the buildings currently being rented. Once that portfolio has been reviewed and streamlined, the government could then consider purchasing buildings with assistance from APS.
