U.N. Renovation Moves to Peak June Through August

Dominique Haoson

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 2 (IPS) - When the U.N.'s 1.9 billion dollar renovation project gets off the ground, the bulk of the moves, including staff, files, commercial services and other functions, will peak from June to August of this year, Executive Director of the Capital Master Plan (CMP) Michael Alderstein, told reporters Monday. "We're making great progress on the temporary North Lawn building, the fit-out of our other swing spaces and the procurement tasks in support of the project" he added.

Alderstein said the temporary North Lawn building, which will be completed by the conclusion of the general debate of this year's General Assembly session, is the primary onsite swing space which will provide the Secretary General's office space, and house functions of the Conference building and later the General Assembly. To accelerate construction, "temporary shrink wrap," will cover the steel frame in a few weeks and will be recycled when no longer needed. "In addition to using existing leases," Alderstein said "three leases are in place" that will provide offsite swing space.

Renovation of the conference building will start this fall, slightly after the renovation of the Secretariat building, and will conclude by 2011. The temporary North Lawn building will then be reconfigured to house the General Assembly. Construction begins on the General Assembly building by late 2011. Alderstein told reporters that "the press will be moved after the general debate in October." An approximate four to five hundred work stations will be moved each weekend. Asked about the possibility of rent being charged for correspondents' offices, Alderstein said he remains neutral, but pointed out "dialogue is underway." Although correspondents are "valued," he said, the amount of rent the UN is paying in the commercial market has become "an issue."

The 1.9 billion dollar mega-project will modernize UN buildings, bringing them into compliance with more current standards for security and energy efficiency. Energy consumption will be reduced by a "projected 44 percent" versus the "40 percent" figure reported last year. "Automated interior shades and blinds will control heat gain and maximize the use of natural light" while "low efficiency steam chillers will be replaced with high efficiency electric chillers" to create a "very efficient hybrid electric steam chiller plant."

Also included in the upgrade are lighting and thermostat systems. "The combination of a more secure building envelope and a higher technology heating and air-conditioning system will save operating costs and lower our carbon footprint for decades." Despite the reduction of estimated costs by 120 million reflected in this year's progress report, the CMP still exceeds the General Assembly's approved budget of 1.9 billion dollars by 97.5 million. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2013.

Scores Dead in Political Violence in Madagascar

Fanja Saholiarisoa

ANTANANARIVO, Feb 2 (IPS) - "The capital has never known such stillness," Marie Ratonvonirina said of the one-day stayaway declared by the mayor of Antannanarivo, Andry Rajoelina on Jan. 29. The work stoppage was a shift in tactics for the 34-year-old mayor who later declared himself to be in control of Madagascar. Ratovonirina, a grocer in downtown Antannanarivo, told IPS she closed her shop up early for want of customers. The stayaway was a lull in a week of heightened political tension in Madagascar, during which 100 people have died - 60 in the capital alone - according to an official statement from the national police.

The deaths were recorded during two bloody days of protest marked by the burning and looting of shops in many cities across the island. In the capital, which had the highest death toll, most of those killed were trapped in fires set at 23 commercial centres. "We found 39 bodies under the debris in one centre," said Colonel Jaona Andrianaivo, head of the fire service in Madagascan capital. Toamasina, the principal town in the east of the country, counted 36 dead while Toliara, in the south, recorded 19. Two further deaths were recorded at Sambava, a city in the northeast.

The deadly conflicts followed a general strike organised on Jan. 26 by Rajoelina and his supporters. They have denounced a lack of freedom of expression and accused the government of being dictatorial. Radio stations perceived to take the mayor's side, as well as Rajoelina's own television station Viva TV, were closed down, unleashing the anger of residents of the capital. The anger boiled over into the torching of state-owned broadcast stations as well as private outlets belonging to the president Marc Ravalomanana.

Visiting the scene of the destruction on Jan. 28, the head of state promised to rebuild the damage. "I will send Air Force One to South Africa to bring back all necessary materials," he declared to journalists.

However, another of his declarations surprised everyone. "Two arrest warrants have been issued, against Rolland Ratsiraka, the former mayor of Toamasina and General Dollin Rasolosoa, private secretary to Rajoelina. They are the source of this tension," he insisted, without mentioning the role played by the mayor himself. From his side, the mayor rejected the president's declaration, insisting that individuals were paid to foment trouble in the capital. "We will resume our demonstrations on Jan. 30," he added.

Diplomats launched an appeal for dialogue in a communiqué read to the press on Jan. 27, and which they repeated the following day, stressing that the international community regretted the lack of dialogue in the face of such damage to lives and property. "We remain concerned by the situation."

Ahead of the return of the mayor and his supporters to the May 13 Plaza, life crept back into the streets of the capital. But for many poor households, the events of recent days have imposed hardship, with basic foodstuffs in short supply.