Georgetown’s architectural landmark City Hall to reopen soon

Georgetown’s historic City Hall is finally nearing completion. The 135-year-old Gothic-style building has undergone a lengthy restoration, aiming to preserve its architectural legacy while preparing it for future municipal use.

“The City Hall building as you see is almost finished or possibly to hand over to us anytime soon. That project itself started with some feasibility studies done and by the European Union, who donated the funds for the study itself. I think the previous administration under the APNU, AFC would’ve moved under the Granger administration to seek to get funding from the monuments and gardens grants,” Mayor Alfred Mentore told Ignite News

Mayor Mentore also addressed the timeline for the final handover. “I don’t know if any date was ever set on it just yet, idk if you have any other information, but I as the mayor of the city, that hasn’t been communicated to me. Cause remember the building itself was handed over to the contractors, and the contractor now has to hand over back the government who spent the money, then it’s for us to set a date.”

The restoration project, awarded in 2021 to Trinidad-based contractor Fides Limited, faced repeated delays despite an initial 18-month timeline. The Ministry of Local Government granted an eight-month extension in August 2023 to ensure the work could be completed properly. Major work, including painting and lighting installations, has been completed, with only minor finishing touches remaining.

Once complete, the restored City Hall will serve as a functional municipal hub and stand as a symbol of Georgetown’s rich architectural heritage, reflecting the city’s commitment to preserving its historical landmarks.