T&T paid Cdn$5M for Toronto consulate building; US$12 for one in Washington

Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon told the Trinidad Guardian Tuesday the the purchase of two overseas buildings - one in Toronto, Canada and the other Washington DC in the US - will provide improved services to nationals of this country.

She insisted that none of the buildings will be for staff. Gopee-Scoon said the Washington office cost US$12 million, not the US$17 reported earlier.

"The office space at the Chancery in Washington DC is severely cramped and hinders the ability to deliver improved services to clients and stakeholders in accordance with the changing needs of the foreign service environment,” the minister said.

She added that the purchase of the U.S. property, which borders the existing Embassy in the American capital, offers an excellent opportunity for expansion and to improve the working condition for staff.

Gopee-Scoon said there would also be additional security measures for "the comfort of citizens and other stakeholders" who uses the services of the embassy.

But she changed the purchase figure for the one at 185 Sheppard Avenue in Toronto.

Earlier in the week the minister confirmed what this blog reported - that the government bought the building for Cdn$4.25 million. That was the price quoted on the real estate listing by REMAX.

She told the Guardian the government paid Cdn$5 million for the building that will house offices of the Trinidad and Tobago consulate in Toronto. That's Cdn$750,000 more than the listed price. And she didn't explain why the government paid more than the asking price or why the deal was made after the listing expired.

Read the original story: T&T buys Toronto building for Cdn$4.25M

Gopee-Scoon said the property at 185 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, will provide the Government with an opportunity to invest and own the property and to discontinue lease arrangements.

She explained that the building is located in an ideal area for serving the stakeholders seeking consular services in Toronto and also provides easy access to transportation, healthcare, banking and other services.

Gopee-Scoon added that the need for improved facilities were heightened by the need to issue Machine Readable Passports at the missions.

The Toronto consulate is the only Trinidad and Tobago office handling applications for the new passports. Nationals living anywhere in Canada must appear in person at the Consulate to apply for the passports.