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EXCLUSIVE: 'A COI will go deeper than the AG’s probe’ - Gov

-Governor John S. Duncan maintained year end date to announce Commission of Inquiry into Ports Development Project and will be looking to see whether procurement processes were circumvented and if so, whether for personal gain
Governor John S. Duncan maintained his year end date to announce whether or not there will be a Commission of Inquiry into Ports Development Project and will be looking to see whether procurement processes were circumvented and if so, whether for personal gain. Photo: VINO
The Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report on the Cruise Pier Project together with the Auditor General's report on same. Photo: VINO/File
The Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report on the Cruise Pier Project together with the Auditor General's report on same. Photo: VINO/File
The Auditor General's Report on the Greenhouse Project. Photo: VINO/File
The Auditor General's Report on the Greenhouse Project. Photo: VINO/File
The Auditor General's Report on the Sea Cow's Bay Harbour Project. Photo: VINO/File
The Auditor General's Report on the Sea Cow's Bay Harbour Project. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Governor of the Virgin Islands John S. Duncan OBE said that he still intends to make his announcement before the end of the year 2014 on whether there will be a Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Cruise Pier Development Project.

His statement comes after two reports - one from the House of Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the other from the Auditor General (AG) Ms. Sonia M. Webster - found alleged corruption, lack of transparency, conflict of interest and that no one was looking out for the taxpayers of the Virgin Islands.

While two other reports authored by the Auditor General - one on the Greenhouse and the other on the Sea Cow's Bay Harbour Project have not reached the Governor via the PAC, the UK non-elected Governor told our news site in an exclusive interview last week that he also wants to look at those reports.

“As I said, what I am looking at is ‘are the procedures for tendering and procurement fit for purpose?’ and by that I mean do they meet international standards? Are they suitably adjusted for a small community? Because we have to get a balance between building capacity local business with what is the cheapest price,” he said.

Governor Duncan who is on the job for three months said the tender process, "is something for which you must have a rule book but it must be something that is balanced between best practice and the needs of the local community and I am looking to see whether that is the case.”

“Personally I have asked experts, I have discussed it with political leaders of the past government and the current government and then once I established that, I want to know whether those rules and procedures have been properly applied. And if they have not been properly applied, why haven’t they been properly applied? Is it because people didn’t know what those procedures were? Is it because people attempted to circumvent the procedures? And if they did try to circumvent the procedures why did they do it,” he said.

“And the other question, was any of the circumvention for personal gain. So those are the questions I am looking at and as I said I am looking at that in terms of asking expert advice and when I have that advice I will take a decision on whether an inquiry is required on the issue on procurement,” Governor Duncan told our news room.

“The people are not happy with the way the procurement processes are working. Now that may be a matter of their simply not understanding them; that they are not visible enough. It may be that we need to make sure that much more understanding of what these processes are,” he said.

“The other question may be that they need strengthening. They may not be as suitable as they should be for this Territory and this may need people probably to come in and advise us on the procurement procedures,” he said.

“It has been a very difficult and contentious issue for this government and the past government so on has to take it seriously and I am taking it seriously and I will give my decision on it as soon as I possibly can,” said Governor Duncan.

On the issue of conflict of interest, he said this is something one has to be careful with in a small community. “But at the same time one has to be aware in a small community people are related to each other. It is quite difficult to manage the issue of conflict of interest and one has to pay particular care to it,” he said.

Asked whether there will be any revision to the timeline set for the announcement of whether a Commission of Inquiry or not he said, “I said I would give a response by the end of the year and this is still my intention. Because I don’t like having an issue like this with uncertainty and rumour, so I hope to do that if not by the end of the year sometime shortly thereafter. But I am still hoping for the end of the year.” 

“What we see in terms of the Auditor General reports are just the symptoms of the problem. The core of the problem is whether the processes of the BVI Government are fit for purpose,” he said.

The Governor of the Overseas Territory of the Virgin Islands said that with regards to what powers the Commission of Inquiry would have, this would be dependent on the terms of reference set out for it.

“But at this stage, I cannot tell you whether there is any need for a Commission of Inquiry. It is one of the options,” he said. “But it would not be a body able to carry out criminal proceedings; it is a body that would make recommendations. It is not a judicial inquiry. But it will go deeper than the Auditor General’s [investigations] have gone,” he said.

Asked what apart from the Commission of Inquiry would be the other options for investigating the issues, he said, “At this stage I can’t really go into the details because that will be prejudging what my findings will be,” he said.

21 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: 'A COI will go deeper than the AG’s probe’ - Gov”

  • His Excellency (24/11/2014, 08:20) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    The smile on the face of the tiger- do not underestimate this man my people- he speaks softly but carries a big stick
  • xxxxxxxx (24/11/2014, 08:21) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
    Seems like this man playing game and trying to stay on the good side of the NDP
  • wiseful thinking (24/11/2014, 08:29) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
    Is he calling the commission of Inquiry or is he playing games?
  • Local (24/11/2014, 08:35) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    We need a transparent governmen. Do the inquiry.
  • THUMBS up UP. (24/11/2014, 09:13) Like (20) Dislike (5) Reply
    Mr. Governor This the headlines that should supersede your name not petty stuff and Now while you at it, The Police Force, The New Hospital, can you imagine a hospital was built and cannot be equipped. The Hospital is seeking donations, in time to come they will be seeking donations to pay staff, mark my words.
  • waste ah time (24/11/2014, 09:22) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    All he doing since he came here is up and down wining and dining.
  • ---------------- (24/11/2014, 09:32) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    finally he is starting to do his job!!! go after thoes whie callr criminals
  • wize up (24/11/2014, 10:42) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    NDP and VIP is the same thing just diffrent actors
  • where is the Auditor general (24/11/2014, 11:20) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hope the auditor general investigate the mole project, the distribution of the MEC assistant grants and the many trips taken by ballhead…something smells in the ministry of education and culture
  • @@@@@@@ (24/11/2014, 11:33) Like (38) Dislike (1) Reply
    If Governor Duncan does not call the commission of inquiry on the ports project then his own integrity will come under question
    • Tell Me.. (24/11/2014, 15:58) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
      Why? Give me one example of corruption or wrong doing on the pier project. This talk has been ongoing over a year and up to now not one man/woman/child can say where is the corruption. So you are saying the Banks, Governor, Contractors, Norwegian and Disney are corrupt? They are all in NDP pocket? lmao! Where is the meat? I'm still waiting for examples of corruption, someone please tell me. As far as I'm aware, the Governor represents the UK and the Ports/Govt could not borrow over $30mil without the blessing of the UK. We are not all stupid.
  • careful (24/11/2014, 11:43) Like (5) Dislike (9) Reply
    It's amazing how these VIP idiots are here egging on the Gov., not even reading between the lines of what he is saying. When he gets his way, all those major contract tenders will be expanded to include UK companies who would be allowed to bid and conduct works in the BVI. Why? Because we are telling him we can't handle it. Stay tuned.
  • rattie (24/11/2014, 12:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    How wonderful to have the assistance of the UK on such matters.

  • Dime (24/11/2014, 14:03) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lock dem up governor the ports project is rotten
  • mother hen (24/11/2014, 14:20) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Governor the fate of good governance reset in your hands on this port project. It was not one report but two…do not let the people of the BVI down!!!
  • shaw (24/11/2014, 14:20) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    These statements are loaded. What experts are you to ask considering most "experts" are affiliated with major projects?
    There is also the assumption that all the proposed projects are wanted by the public. Clearly not all are.
    And in the meantime, the cruise project continues- making one mistake after another without an overall plan.
    Indeed, BVI needs a master plan and lay the foundation for a reliable project. But we continue to fix as we go because issues were not determined before hand. Very Mickey Mouse. Why is there a need to extend the decision to after Christmas?
  • Ah LAUGH (24/11/2014, 15:56) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    I hope when he announces that if he is doing any COI or investigations, he will have to do them on ALL major projects going back 10 years. Let us see if that will be an exclusive or breaking news. lmao. With the cruise pier at least we are seeing the progress with the works. Tell me which major project came to fruition under the previous guys, not one thing finished, pure confusion, we will not forget.
  • tretretrete (24/11/2014, 16:05) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    The same way some of these NDP Ministers run their personal businesses they are running the country..NO ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENTCY.
  • no more talk (24/11/2014, 23:42) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    look i just hope the next time I hear from the governor is to announce the comm of inquiry into the Ports dev project call for by the people end of all teh talk!!


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