CHOGM venue misses deadline

By Algernon Watts The government has missed its firm 30 September deadline for delivery of the National Performing Arts Centre, leaving the flagship CHOGM venue unfinished just one month before Commonwealth leaders begin arriving in Antigua and Barbuda. Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant confirmed at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing that the facility was not handed over as promised, despite repeated assurances in recent weeks that the deadline would be met. The latest setback centres on certification for materials being used to suspend speakers and other multimedia equipment from the roof of the former Deluxe Cinema building. The certification is required before the equipment can be installed safely. The deadline was intended to leave approximately one month for final preparations ahead of CHOGM, which runs from 1 to 4 November.

The Performing Arts Centre is expected to host the summit’s opening ceremony, placing it at the heart of preparations to receive heads of government and other senior delegates from across the Commonwealth. National Housing Chairman and Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner repeatedly insisted the project would be delivered on time as construction accelerated ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. As recently as 11 September, Cabinet reported that the centre remained on schedule for delivery by 30 September, with seating being installed and exterior finishing work underway. Audiovisual and other technical systems were still to be installed and tested. The project has also been impossible to miss for people travelling through the capital. The centre is being developed at the former Deluxe Cinema on High Street, in the heart of St John’s, where extensive construction and associated…