Over $9.8B already spent on incomplete Govt. office complex

Feb 16, 2026 News

…cost now projected to reach $19.6B

(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana has spent approximately $9.8 billion to date on the office complex at the Haags Bosch area, on the East Bank of Demerara.

With another $6.8 billion allocated to the project this year, the price for the complex is now estimated at a staggering $19.6 billion, up from its initial estimate of $15.8 billion, as indicated in the 2026 Budget.

In 2025, government budgeted over $1 billion to streamline the project, however, between November and December in 2025, government paid the contractor, Caribbean Green Building Inc, an additional $1 billion to complete works on the structure. An advance was taken from the contingency fund for the project, being executed under the Ministry of Public Works, head by Minister Juan Edghill.

Over $9.8B already spent on incomplete Govt. office complex

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

On Friday evening, the National Assembly scrutinised Financial Paper Number Two of 2025, amounting to $18.8 billion which included the sum of $1 billion for the office complex.

As such, questions were raised by opposition parliamentarian for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Ganesh Mahipaul.

For his part, Mahipaul was concerned about the “urgent and unforeseen” expenditure that amounted to a whopping $1 billion at the end of 2025.

He told the National Assembly that another billion-dollars was poured into the facility which is still incomplete.

The public works minister however described the advance taken for the project as a demonstration of “good governance” highlighting that more work was done on the multi-complex structure than anticipated.

The 2026 Budget includes the sum of $6.8B for the project which is now pegged at $19.6B.

Mahipaul however argued, “So far we have approved in this house, I think, close to $8.6B for the project that is being executed. The laws of this country speak to paying for measured work and what we are seeing before our eyes at the Haags Bosch landfill site area with these four buildings to form the government complex does not equate to over $8B.”

To this end, the opposition MP questioned why the sum was handed over and not catered for in this year’s budget. Additionally, he asked whether there were urgent works required and to state the urgent works executed.

Edghill did not state whether the activities financed the amount sought was “urgent” but explained, “The need for the contingency fund advance was to ensure that the contractor was paid…we must be able to celebrate why, we are getting it done so fast and that’s what we did.”

The minister also provided a breakdown on the total expenditure on the incomplete project. The sum of $3.17 billion was spent on piling and foundation works for the structures, which is now 100 per cent complete.

Another $3.10 billion has been expended on structural works for the complex which according to minister Edghill “represented 78 per cent of the budget for structural work whether it is in the utility building or the complex.”

Meanwhile, a further $1.1 billion was expended on site preparation, grubbing and sand filling of the land for the project, with $1.24 billion spent for design and final design deliverables.

Construction works are currently ongoing on the Government Towers at Haags Bosch, East Bank Demerara. (Photo credit: President Irfaan Ali)

Urgent audit

In an invited comment on Sunday, MP Mahipaul called on the Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma to conduct an urgent audit of the expenses associated with the project.

He contended “government is pulling out money and expending but you are not seeing that work with your naked eyes when you look at the project. I am calling on the AG to audit these huge expenses…he must stop operating like he is in bed with the PPP. If he continues like this which we have no confidence in him, we will not support his extension that he is asking for.”

Stabroek News reported last week that Minister Edghill expects the complex to be completed in January 2027, pushing the deadline from August 2026.

The complex will feature four towers with a capacity to hold approximately 6,000 staff, built on 20 acres of land. The project is intended to increase efficiency by consolidating government agencies into one location, improving on the delivery of services.

“Rather than people running from different places to get service from an agency, several agencies will be in one complex. So, when you drive there and you park and you come out, you could get several services done,” Minister Edghill previously explained.

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Caribbean Green Building Inc, Haags Bosch, Juan Edghill, office complex, scrutinised

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