WESTERN BUREAU — The state-run Urban Development Corporation will today begin work on the $155-million Montego Bay Civic Centre, to repair defects in the building that they completed less than two years ago.

The centre will be closed to the public for the next four weeks. The doors were officially closed yesterday as the contractors visited the facility and made note of the list of things that need to be done.

The facility houses a museum and an art gallery, and is also the venue for theatrical productions, exhibitions and civic functions.

Secretary/manager for the St James Parish Council, Christopher Powell told the last monthly meeting of the council that the repairs would include fixing the building’s copper-domed roof, its ceiling and its wooden floor.

“Other minor remedial work will also be carried out at the facility,” he added.

According to an Observer source, the UDC will also have to put handles on some of the inside doors.

Built with funds made available from the Venezuelans under the San Jose Accord, the facility was handed over to the parish council three months after prime minister PJ Patterson officially opened it in October 2001.

But immediately after the local government body gained control of the facility, it identified certain defects that the UDC then promised to rectify, according to Gerard Mitchell, deputy mayor of Montego Bay.

The defects included a leaking roof, which caused considerable damage to sections of the varnished wooden floor; as well as a defective air-conditioning system.

At their January meeting, councillors, obviously frustrated at the long delay in the commencement of the repair job, voted to serve the UDC a 14-day ultimatum for the repairs to be carried out.

At this month’s meeting, they welcomed the news that repairs would be carried out, but they wanted more.

People’s National Party councillor for the Catadupa division, Dennis Wanliss issued a call for the UDC to keep its promise to make the building accessible to the physically challenged.

He argued that shortly after the facility was officially opened, the prime minister promised that a ramp and an elevator would be installed. The absence of these amenities, Wanliss said, is preventing disabled persons’ access to the facility.

Ruling People’s National Party councillor for the Mount Salem division, Charmaine Richards, called for the erection of a perimeter fence around the property. She argued that the grounds on which the centre stands are being used for other activities than those for which they were originally intended, particularly at nights.