Contractors reluctant to work until paid for previous jobs - Min. Vanterpool
“It then impedes the progress that we need to do in certain cases when we want to get certain projects done as quickly as possible. Now I have to figure out how I am going to manage with this situation or am I going to go a different route to get the work done,” the Communications and Works Minister stated during his contribution in debating the Appropriation Act, 2011 (Act No.1 of 2011).
Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith on Monday, December 19, 2011, tabled in the HOA the supplementary estimates for the recurrent expenditure of $9,991,800 to be charged against the Consolidated Fund of the Territory and $8,991,800 be charged against the Development Fund of the Territory by way of funds transferred from the Consolidated Fund.
Hon. Vanterpool stated that recently he spoke to one contractor about the paving of the Hospital parking lot, who informed him of the monies owed.
He added, “One of the bills came up to $600,000 plus and they could not have been paid because the work they had done was right before the election. The nice road we have in Sea Cows Bay that was paved, $600,000 plus. Madame Speaker that is the number I got and I don’t know where it came from but we can be corrected, but that is the number I am told is owed for the project. There are other projects that are owed to a lot of people like that.”
In addition to that, Hon. Vanterpool noted that he was given a book by the Public Works Department (PWD) which revealed that there is $13.7M worth of contracts left to be carried out.
“All the works on those contacts have not been done but that was presented to me. That was one thing but the monies owed to people who I am now going to as a Ministry to get the some work done tell me that they ain’t moving until they are paid for other projects,” he emphasised.
However, former Minister for Communications and Works and 3rd District representative, Julian Fraser, RA during his contribution stated there is nothing new about Government owing contractors monies.
“I am surprised that the member said it [paving of the hospital parking lot] was because there was some works done just before elections. Because it was the same contractor who told me that the Government owes him $300,000 for the works done on A O Shirley track and that was done under the [National Democratic Party (NDP)] administration. I don’t know how he missed that,” he added.
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