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Ex PS Clyde Lettsome refused interview over Greenhouse - Report

Auditor General got no information from the former Permanent Secretary who she said administered the project during its major activity from 2008 to February 2011
July 24th, 2014 | Tags:
The Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster complained in her report on page 2 that her audit examination was restricted because former Permanent Secretary Clyde Lettsome of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, who administered the project during its major period of activity from commencement in 2008 to February 2011, was contacted to be interviewed about the project but refused to be interviewed. Photo: VINO/File
In her Audit of the Greenhouse project Ms. Webster requested that priority should be given to commissioning of the Greenhouses at Paraquita Bay. She warned that keeping them in a state of disuse contributes to their rapid deterioration and cost the government and that there should be opportunities to make good on this initiative. Photo: VINO/File
In her Audit of the Greenhouse project Ms. Webster requested that priority should be given to commissioning of the Greenhouses at Paraquita Bay. She warned that keeping them in a state of disuse contributes to their rapid deterioration and cost the government and that there should be opportunities to make good on this initiative. Photo: VINO/File
The Auditor General Report authored by Ms. Sonia M. Webster on the Greenhouse project has been made public by the National Democratic Party Administration on July 22, 2014 at the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly. Photo: VINO
The Auditor General Report authored by Ms. Sonia M. Webster on the Greenhouse project has been made public by the National Democratic Party Administration on July 22, 2014 at the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - As the Virgin Islands populace is consumed by the Auditor General Report on the Cruise Pier Development Project that uncovered corruption, conflict of interest and that no one was looking out for the interest of the taxpayers, another report, despite given little attention or ‘ink’ has been made public.

The Auditor General Report authored by Ms. Sonia M. Webster on the Greenhouse project has been made public by the National Democratic Party Administration on July 22, 2014 at the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly.

The project which was executed under the previous Virgin Islands Party Administration of former Premier and Minister of Finance Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, had Cabinet approval according to the report.

The subject Minister for the project was former Legislator Omar W. Hodge.

Accounting Officer-Lettsome a no show

The Auditor General Ms. Webster complained in her report on page 2 that her audit examination was restricted because former Permanent Secretary Clyde Lettsome of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, who administered the project during its major period of activity from commencement in 2008 to February 2011, was contacted to be interviewed about the project. 

However, the request was not accommodated according to the report.

In one of her many recommendations in her audit of the Greenhouse Project, the Auditor General (AG) said that “Permanent Secretaries and Department Heads should adhere to the financial regulations. Those who fail to observe prudent financial management of public funds should be subject to surcharge.”

Calls and text messages to Mr Lettsome for a comment on his alleged refusal to be interviewed were not responded to up to post time.

Greenhouse Background

In May of 2008 a delegation including the then Minister for Natural Resource and Labour and then Opposition Leader now Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith and other officials visited the Dominican Republic to tour greenhouse facilities and assess whether and how similar systems could be applicable to the Virgin Islands.

In June 2008 IBT’s Associate, Inverca who are greenhouse designers and manufactures from Spain visited the Virgin Islands (VI) to provide information about their product.

Following this IBT submitted to the Government an estimate of $5,555,980.80 for providing and installing six greenhouses in the VI, each with a ground cover of one year.

Project had Cabinet’s Blessings

Cabinet on July 2, 2008, endorsed the initiative and authorized the Ministry to undertake a pilot project to produced food crops using greenhouse technology. The venues to be considered for the project were Paraquita Bay, Tortola and South Sound , Virgin Gorda.

According to the Auditor General Report Cabinet also agreed that IBT would build and operate the greenhouses and sell the produce to the Virgin Islands’ Government for a specified period of time before handing it over to the Government.

Project is a good one - Auditor General

In her Audit of the Greenhouse project Ms. Webster requested that priority should be given to commissioning of the Greenhouses at Paraquita Bay. She warned that keeping them in a state of disuse contributes to their rapid deterioration and cost the government and that there should be opportunities to make good on this initiative.

Ms. Webster also recommended that consideration should be given to sourcing a suitable individual from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) to undertake training and attachments aboard in greenhouse farming and agronomy.

She wrote ‘a technology in agriculture initiative' can be implemented to generate youth interest in the sector at local secondary and tertiary institutions.

The AG also suggested that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour should consider retaining or leasing one of the greenhouses to be used for training and possibly leasing to interested farmers in much the same way as is done with the land on Paraquita Bay.

It remains unclear why the former Permanent Secretary Mr. Lettsome refused to be interviewed by the AG for her audit of the project.

22 Responses to “Ex PS Clyde Lettsome refused interview over Greenhouse - Report ”

  • cay (24/07/2014, 11:10) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Ha ha no smoking guns
  • bay yute (24/07/2014, 11:23) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    Ndp distraction failed
  • Rat (24/07/2014, 11:42) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Something stinks! Is it corruption I smell? Mr. Lettsome, it would appear that you were up to no good or else, you would not have a reason to hide.
    • joseph (24/07/2014, 13:39) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
      Mr. Lettsome is a busy man. He has more pressing things to take care of at Oil Nut Bay
  • Yes (24/07/2014, 11:42) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
    reading the blue ndp site one will think that the VIP did something wrong..thank god for a fair and balance site like VINO so we can get the facts
  • farmer brown (24/07/2014, 11:58) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    This report just serves to drive home the fact that our agriculture system is in disarray.
  • trrefdrfds (24/07/2014, 12:00) Like (7) Dislike (13) Reply
    Why dredge up $hit that done got already, they done thief the money and are no longer in power. makes no sense at all, try again, ndp
  • JACK BE STILL (24/07/2014, 12:13) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have no compassion for current or former public officer not wanting to be accountable
  • DON Q (24/07/2014, 12:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I've been reading these articles and comments for weeks, and I'm amazed at the emotion bordering on hatred that has been aimed at each other
  • pat (24/07/2014, 12:19) Like (15) Dislike (18) Reply
    He works for oil nut bay now. No need to be responsible to BVI. AG's suggestion of getting the college involved for training and/or leasing is a good one. too bad south sound was built before seeing if the experiment in Paraquita worked or not. It ruined a great property.
  • Thank you! (24/07/2014, 12:29) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Thank you VINO for the other side of this issue!
  • wize up (24/07/2014, 19:01) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    VIP and NDP same set !!!!!
    • ta ta (28/07/2014, 00:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Someone should do a public shaming of the PS not keeing an eye on this project
  • Yes (24/07/2014, 21:47) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    dem got pow to kill but nothing wrong with what this guy did. cause a muck and then refuse to be interviewed
  • civil servant (25/07/2014, 07:56) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    The service need effective per sec like Willock and Clyde back to help this government
    • @ civil servant (26/07/2014, 08:10) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      How ironic! I was just saying the same thing to a minister last week
  • Right Sed Fred (30/07/2014, 07:56) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Clyde ma boy tiefing from David Johnson ONB man now.


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