Krezmore Construction has begun the first phase of repairs to the Old Government House Museum — which was shuttered after the 2017 hurricanes— and expects to finish these renovations in the next four weeks, said Temulji Hughes, communications officer in the Deputy Governor’s Office.
A $65,710.80 contract signed by Governor Gus Jaspert on Feb. 28 was funded by the $77,000 raised during a gala and auction hosted by the board of the Old Government House last year, Mr. Hughes said.
Upon completion of this first phase, the board will then “move into making decisions” about the next phase of repairs, aiming to reopen the museum in June, according to the information officer.
Renovations will take place in several ground floor rooms, including the dining room, front room, and exhibition room, which houses historic records and items, according to a March 4 press release.
Mr. Hughes added that the front room will be turned into a gift shop.
“This contract marks an important step in repairing Old Government House Museum so it can be reopened for the benefit of local people and visitors to the Virgin Islands,” Mr. Jaspert said.
In 2019, students from the VI School of Technical Studies assisted in displaying a cannon and assembling a pergola in the garden to “provide a space for shade and quiet contemplation,” the press release stated.
Although the press release stated that the Recovery and Development Agency oversaw the tender process, Colene Penn, RDA head of communications, declined to answerquestions about this process, explaining, “This is not an RDA project.