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Ex UK civil servant Stephen Johnson rakes in over $1M as Airport consultant

- Mr Johnson, who was an employee of Her Majesty’s Treasury, started his contract on February 19, 2014 through his company Endson Consulting; Now makes $250,000 per year for 5 years
Her Majesty's Treasury building in central London where former United Kingdom Civil Servant Mr Stephen Johnson worked. Photo: Internet Source
The Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport runway on Beef Island, Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
The Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport runway on Beef Island, Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
From left: Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith and Deputy Premier Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7). Hon Pickering had long said the airport runaway extension is a done deal. Photo: VINO/File
From left: Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith and Deputy Premier Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7). Hon Pickering had long said the airport runaway extension is a done deal. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A former United Kingdom Civil Servant Mr Stephen Johnson, who worked in Her Majesty’s Treasury and had direct dealing with the Virgin Islands, has landed a huge contract with the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government.

According to information obtained from a senior NDP source, Mr Johnson’s contract was approved by Cabinet before the 2015 election, giving him a lucrative contract of $250,000 USD a year for five years to help the government with the new airport expansion project.

Big money for UK national

This means Mr Johnson, who has worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), will be raking in some one million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars plus over five years.

Since the contract has not been registered with the Registrar of High Court, as is the practice, the details of what Mr Johnson, through his Endson Consulting Ltd, is contracted to do on the project for that amount is unknown at this time.

With the NDP raiding the Treasury to win the 2015 snap general election, leaving the country broke and vendors being owed for months, it remains unclear why such a huge contract was awarded to a UK National when locals are not given this same opportunity.

Airport project gone cold?

The airport expansion project has been in limbo over the news that the contract to move forward with the runway expansion was to be awarded to a Chinese company over an enterprise that has local involvement.

It was our newsroom that first and accurately broke the story in an article on May 17, 2016. The two final companies were China Communications Construction Company Ltd, and IDL Group, who merged with Sir Robert McAlpine Holdings and local partner ADC of the Virgin Islands.

Since our article, China Communications Construction has linked up with a local partner.

Millions & Millions by NDP hypocrites

Critics of the airport runway expansion have said almost $1M has been spent by the NDP on this project and to date not a “rock has moved”.

The NDP has gone silent on the runway expansion project after the controversy erupted over plans to award the contract to a foreign company over a local, something the same NDP Administration said was wrong in 2011 when they campaigned against the then Virgin Islands Party awarding a water purchase agreement to UK based Biwater.

35 Responses to “ Ex UK civil servant Stephen Johnson rakes in over $1M as Airport consultant”

  • cgb (15/07/2016, 14:19) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    I wander if a local will ever get paid that much smh
    • @ cgb (15/07/2016, 14:55) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
      No way its reserved for whites and expats
    • B Savage (15/07/2016, 15:33) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Listen YOU WANT TO SELL OUT YOUR ISLANDS? Elect this government where EDOMITES COME, SEE, CONQUER. By next election you guys will not recognize anybody lol but one thing for sure THEY come spend big with my business when they get them BIG CONTRACT. I feel sorry for locals who waiting for THIS GOVERNMENT to be fare best become an entrepeneur so the big contracts spend with YOUU TOOO lol don't hold your breathe lol lol lol.
    • Dragon (15/07/2016, 22:52) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
      "Cgb" was it not locals who got paid a million for the wall around the school???
  • pat (15/07/2016, 14:28) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Oh no my god
  • trrefdrfds (15/07/2016, 14:36) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look at them, no worries though because come next election that NDP gang will be Dead On Arrival, I known them election gimmicks cant work again and ayo better trust that, ill bet my last dollar right now if elections get hold right now that same NDP will loose by a landslide, any bets?
  • wah (15/07/2016, 14:54) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    local got pay $1million for some crappy old wall, government dem think money grow on trees.
  • stop (15/07/2016, 15:12) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    This has to stop! Yes, the airport story needs to be sorted out, but there are other matters and areas the government needs put money into. 1. Schools...
  • Hmm (15/07/2016, 15:33) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who is the local or local company the Chinese linked with?
    • sand unwise (15/07/2016, 18:16) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      The white head man
      • Hmmmm (16/07/2016, 09:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        If so then JTC involve but the White head now Bald head and the smaller one now white head either way SGC in on this also.
  • just wrong (15/07/2016, 16:33) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unbelievable. Same old "cart before the horse" thing. Or is it the ego of politicians that cannot admit now it's the wrong thing to d. Or they can't admit to throwing away a million dollars. Anyone have any idea what the BVI got in return for the million? Just totally unbelievable...
  • zoe (15/07/2016, 16:44) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    The governor loves this as his friends getting a eat
  • wize up (15/07/2016, 17:33) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Run to the governor now and complain; when your own local people make money it's a problem......
  • 123 (15/07/2016, 17:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    More money
  • voter (15/07/2016, 17:56) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hear Doc plant a money tree behind the complex.
  • Sell out (15/07/2016, 18:17) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is not for real
  • Street reporter (15/07/2016, 18:58) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Don't worry my people this will come back to haunt them. This same consultant will testify against them..
  • Really? (15/07/2016, 19:55) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    They really wasting money now
  • king (15/07/2016, 20:10) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Bvi people has no honor in them country
  • Binocs (15/07/2016, 20:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This government should be investigated if that is the way they are spending taxpayers money. They did not learn their lesson from Turks and Caicos. Too much corruption in this place. Who is looking out for the people of this country? It is time for fresh elections. Hope the governor is aware of what is happening. Cruise Pier no investigation. Will the airport be the same? We need to be told by the politicians how our money is spent. They must be accountable to the electorates.
  • and yet (15/07/2016, 20:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    All of this and the VIP still will not win. That's how bad it is. Get your house in order.
  • ayo 4get he (15/07/2016, 23:48) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    wilsin the trickydadian made hundreds of thousands too
  • watching (16/07/2016, 00:04) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a crock of s - - - !!!
  • dem man smart (16/07/2016, 02:06) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    So they hire the white man to help them stay out of jail and not get investigated
  • John (16/07/2016, 08:04) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is Ms. P on all this? She has fallen deafeningly silent lately.
    • Well (16/07/2016, 15:59) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      WHEN YOU ALL WHAT IS REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE AIR PORT THE REAL BUISNESS WILL ALREADY SET UP . THIS IS HOW THE /// HAVE A GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE. BUT TO ME IT IS A GOVERNMENT IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
  • Oh Please (16/07/2016, 20:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    $250,000 is crap money these days in the UK. Euros would have been much more.
    If we do not have a local to fit the position then we have to pay more for an outsider.
  • Saddened (18/07/2016, 10:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am saddened by the things that are taking place in this country. I think its time we elect people who are upstanding and will not be corrupted by the love of money and will not worship mammon. Politicians here have little or no integrity and they are all a bunch of sell outs. They are lovers of self which is what the Bible speaks about. Clearly we are living in the last days.
  • DIY (19/07/2016, 14:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't understand why we are upset at what the government does in regards to these kind of job. An Airport is not a " Bush Cutting " Work. We pay locals to pave the roads and see the kind of batch jobs that we get consistently. We employee our own to build buildings and other infrastructure in this country and the result is " the projects are always Late or falling behind and never well planned out. Furthermore . lets assume that a " Local " got the job two things will happen. 1. The "People " of this country will kick up a storm about who the local is that got that contract and why it had to be so much money etc. 2. "if a local got a project of this size What do you think will happen? that this project will be subcontracted to an overseas organization with the means an power to handle it. Bottom line.. We as a people in the BVI talk a lot of trash but we don't do anything that says as a people WE ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING certain affairs... we just like to blame government but reality is .. " IF " the government had confidence in its people to handle those kinds of projects we would always get them. YOU DONT SEE JAPAN ASKING THE CARIBBEAN TO SEND PEOPLE TO HELP THEM BUILD A DOCK , OR PAVE ROADS OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT WHY?! There people are more than capable to handle in project big or small.. We need to get it together and stop playing politics and look at how we can get to that kinda status instead of complaining about who gets what ... just my opinion
  • BuzzBvi (21/07/2016, 23:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is clear the contractor who did Georgie Hill Road cannot build roads but he keeps getting more work. DIY is right time to use people who can do things right. We may even get lights on the road too instead of some nuts and bolts and bits of metal laid on their side for 5 years and counting........


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