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Bishop Cline owned 'Infinite Solutions' gets $138K Gov't laptop contract

- contract awarded for some 500 laptops be supplied for online education push
Pastor and Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duffs Bottom Tortola, Mr John I. Cline through his company Infinite Solutions has been awarded a contract to supply some 500 laptops as part of a school assistance programme piloted by government. Photo: VINO/File
This announcement was made today by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at a special live COVID-19 update where he said that as part of the 'this new regular', education is taking on a different approach from the traditional classroom to online learning. Photo: Facebook/GiS
This announcement was made today by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at a special live COVID-19 update where he said that as part of the 'this new regular', education is taking on a different approach from the traditional classroom to online learning. Photo: Facebook/GiS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Pastor and Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duffs Bottom, Tortola, Mr John I. Cline, through his company Infinite Solutions, has been awarded a contract to supply some 500 laptops as part of a school assistance programme piloted by the Government of the Virgin Islands.

This announcement was made yesterday, May 8, 2020, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at a special live COVID-19 update where he said that as part of the 'new regular', education is taking on a different approach from the traditional classroom to online learning.

'The new regular' & education 

"We are aware that with anything new there will always be teething pains, but let’s now allow the perfect to become the enemy of the greater good. We are aware that there are some students who do not have all the equipment they need to function effectively in this new type of learning environment." 

He said as a result of the new mandate and in order to support their online schooling, as well as local teachers who have the same needs, Cabinet has made moves to help in that area.

"Hence, the Cabinet made a decision to allow for the purchase of laptops to assist those students and teachers who still have a need. Cabinet approved the waiving of the tender process to purchase 500 laptops for students and teachers to support online education as a result of the disruption to the traditional education caused by COVID-19."

According to the Premier, Cabinet also decided that the contract be awarded to Infinite Solutions for the supply of laptops in the amount of $138,800 to facilitate online education.

Education must make adjustments - Premier Fahie 

Hon Fahie said, "We now look forward to our children and teachers receiving those laptops so that they can continue to prepare for the future of this Territory. Please be mindful that in this new regular, even the education system will have to make adjustments."

32 Responses to “Bishop Cline owned 'Infinite Solutions' gets $138K Gov't laptop contract ”

  • lol (08/05/2020, 21:59) Like (41) Dislike (7) Reply
    Laptops and House of Assembly(@ save the seed) yeahhhhh mah boy, the rich getting richer.....now, we know they were not gonna do him a thing for breaching the curfew L O L
    • Come on now? (09/05/2020, 09:45) Like (1) Dislike (23) Reply
      @lol the jokes on you - you see give rich getting richer but what’s wrong with that? After all God said seek him and all should be well. By the sweat of the brow he or she will get___________
    • BVIDee (09/05/2020, 09:49) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      $138K for 500 laptops? That’s a steal of a deal! It’s not even showing a profit for Infinite Solutions if a cheap laptop costs $400 a piece = $200K
      • laptops (09/05/2020, 10:49) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
        I believe that bulk sales of mediocre laptops is approx. $100-200 each so IS will likely make a profit of $38,000 to $88,000.
      • My girl (09/05/2020, 19:17) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        $276 per computer. That seems very reasonable
        • @Jack (10/05/2020, 10:16) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
          Yup for laptops with little or no memory. Just good enough for online learning.

          Most would not buy those type for themselves. Much less keep them.
    • VG Resident (09/05/2020, 10:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Are these laptops coming with re-installed programs? Cost of programs? Who is paying for the monthly internet charge?
      • wow (09/05/2020, 12:58) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
        VG resident! You’ll want everything single thing for free. Never for money for important things but always finds a way to get money for other things....
    • Smith (09/05/2020, 13:08) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Well if the government is doing something wrong then all you all who hating go and open a computer business and stop talking trash
  • wow (08/05/2020, 22:05) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    First an after school program that never happened now this? I hope we actually get the laptops
  • Power of God (09/05/2020, 09:41) Like (3) Dislike (12) Reply
    You’ll can say what you all what to say but when God Says YES who can say NO? Who God Bless no man or woman_________
  • Guest (09/05/2020, 09:54) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    I guess all the 5G talk and why we under curfew conspiracies will now come to an end. He will be quiet now...
  • Liberty (09/05/2020, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    the education ministry, you have to create a digital platform where the student receives the necessary information to continue studying, surely every home has a computer, a cell phone, innesesry spend that money
  • Why Not (09/05/2020, 10:20) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    Somebody got to get the contract. What's wrong with him getting it. If another company had get it, ayo would ah have a problem too. If they had order them on Amazon, ayo wudda say a local should a get it. If Bash had get it, ayo woukd a say he a seerian. Geeze man. He got a right to his opinion but his views should not mean we can't support his business if he has the service. Simmer down and stop hating on everything. Shup ain't my cup a tee but I respect the man. He talk and we move on
  • Diaspora (09/05/2020, 10:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Commend the MEC for procuring laptops and other electronic devices to ensure that the education process for VI students is ongoing and seamless. This is important for their basic developmental cognitive learning and to ensure no lag in their education. Nonetheless, was this purchase an emergency purchase, a sole source procurement or was it competed? This is probably a one time purchase but is there a regional, central buy board that the territory can use? Buy boards can reduce procurement cost. Anyway, everyone has to eat but does it seem that some movers and shakers are skilled at successfully navigating through the intricacies of modern politics regardless of party in power. We must be careful not to distracted by the ground noise but rather pay attention to actions and what people do. Be aware of chasing circling shiny objects.
  • VG Resident (09/05/2020, 10:45) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Were there specifications for these laptops? Are they used/refurbished? Again no transparency in awarding contracts.Just give out a contract to whomever you want.
    • @vg resident (11/05/2020, 16:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      These are not used or refurbished laptops. The ministry always specifies what they want when ordering. If you have the means and can do better then go right ahead. Infinite Solutions has been doing business with the government for years, so how do you know there's no transparency. Don't you think the ministry looked at all the bids and went with the best one. Geezzzz!!!!! why you all hating. OH yea it's John & Ron CLINE company. You all just love to hate the Cline name.
  • Wonder Why (09/05/2020, 11:43) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    White folks in our country owing our sea water; dive sites; personal private commercial villas however the little black boy from Road Town is being questioned and finger pointing: An old man once said to me while resting his hand on my shoulder “empty vessels makes most noise” /// the one chap travel to Road Town all the way from New Zealand made thirty five thousand dollar every month & very man mout chut!!!! Do the Maths 35,000.00 X 12 =!!!!
  • We in trouble (09/05/2020, 11:44) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    Thats Good that a local business get the contract.. However, I think that the contract should have split betwwen other businesses in the BVI that sell computers, If Cline is your favorite give 200 and give another there businesses 100 each its rough for all businesses except the big Super Markets, that would have been such of a conscious decision.. The more mouth u feed the more your blessings increase..
  • Charley Rose (09/05/2020, 12:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is a good deal that the government has for the laptop computers. However, we must ensure that they are not dumped from other countries and we are receiving them because they are cheap. I have seen it happened in other jurisdictions in the Caribbean.
  • @power of god (09/05/2020, 12:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    U turn my house in a den of theifs....hmmmmmmmthings seems not to change
  • Windy (09/05/2020, 13:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    All those kids... and an already dismal internet. Slow & slower
  • good move (09/05/2020, 13:56) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Not expensive. 500 use loptop with necessary programs., $30!0 each not bad. Look at the benefits to our students.
  • voice of the locals (09/05/2020, 16:26) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    he born here and has the right to eat in his own county
    • Refrain from Bashingthebishop (10/05/2020, 21:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The good pastor certainly does manage to eat.
  • 007 (09/05/2020, 19:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's actually a steal of a deal or a 6 for a 9. A decent cheap laptop would be in the high $300, high $400 price range. No laptop in the $200 range will have a decent processor or RAM to be productive but then again if you only doing school work you shouldn't have too many programs open anyway but one would think that they will be streaming video for classes so it doesn't sound feasible. I would like to know the type of laptops being provided.
  • @007 (10/05/2020, 10:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Chromebooks
    • 007 (10/05/2020, 11:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Now it makes a lot of sense. It's not a bad deal and its not like the students will be doing heavy lifting with the devices so it is what it is.
  • One man (11/05/2020, 07:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Why is one man getting everything? What happened to him allegedly breaking the Curfew Law ? People are watching and taking notes of our double standards.

  • Sickening (11/05/2020, 16:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Ask who got the contract to supply all the schools with copiers last September. Ask what kind of copiers they got and who has to travel from overseas to service them. But no all you want to kill one man because all; you think he getting too much.



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