Greenlanders reject high cost of new parliament building

190 million kroner price tag too high

Plans for a 190 million kroner building to house Greenland’s parliament is meeting resistance from Greenlanders.

According to Politiken, over 1,000 people recently joined in a protest against the new building – a high turnout for a country that only has a population of 56,000.

Much of the resistance is due to the cost. Greenland's 2014 expenses are expected to come in 83 million kroner over budget this year.

Vittus Qujaukitsoq, Greenland's finance minister, has said he is at best “ambivalent” about the project that was approved by 29 of Greenland’s 31 MPs.

Moldy and cramped
“There is of course the social perspective, which [would suggest] structural problems, unemployment and education are more important,” Qujaukitsoq told Politiken.

“Parliament itself must decide what its priorities are.”

The rationale for a new building is that the space in the current building is limited to elected representatives and their staff. The building is also said to be poorly insulated and have mould in the basement.

READ MORE: No uranium, no investments, mining company tells Greenlanders

Greenland’s premier, Aleqa Hammond, has said she believes that it is the right decision to build a new parliament building.




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