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SENATOR MALONE CALLS FOR REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES
July 2, 2003 – Today, Senator Shawn-Michael Malone wrote Department of Public Works Commissioner Wayne D. Callwood to request that a cost evaluation be completed on government properties that are unoccupied and in disrepair.
Recently the Department of Property and Procurement issued a list of government owned properties suitable for repairs, describing five such locations on St. Thomas and thirteen on St. Croix. In reference to this list, Senator Malone made his request in an effort to reduce the amount of money the Virgin Islands Government spends on commercial rental space. While acknowledging the manpower difficulties facing the Department of Public Works, Senator Malone firmly maintained his position saying, "…this cost evaluation is of the utmost importance as it can positively affect the overall long-term fiscal health of the Territory. We cannot afford to continue the costly practice of renting space while government-owned property remains unoccupied and in a state of disrepair."
Senator Malone called for Commissioner Callwood's immediate attention to this important matter due to the current fiscal condition of the territory. Emphasizing his point Senator Malone stated, "No one can disagree that the need to minimize unnecessary expenditures, like the current practice of renting space while government property goes unused, remains as a major step in restoring good fiscal health to our government while promoting more efficiency in its operations," Malone concluded.
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