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Hon Vanterpool wants value for money from local contractors

- contract signed for slope stabilisation & retaining wall works @ Nottingham Estate
Government today January 7, 2016 signed a contract for rehabilitation of a number of retaining walls and carrying out slope stabilisation at Nottingham Estate in the amount of $669,022.02 with a joint venture comprising local contractors G-Unit and Junior Mathias. From left are Junior Mathias, J. Gregory Hodge, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith and Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4). Photo: VINO
According to the Minister, G-Unit/Junior Mathias will be responsible for works at Nottingham Estate. He congratulated the contractors for winning the contract and charged them with timely and on-budget delivery. Photo: VINO
According to the Minister, G-Unit/Junior Mathias will be responsible for works at Nottingham Estate. He congratulated the contractors for winning the contract and charged them with timely and on-budget delivery. Photo: VINO
J. Gregory Hodge of G-Unit contracting company. Photo: VINO
J. Gregory Hodge of G-Unit contracting company. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Government today January 7, 2016 signed a contract for rehabilitation of a number of retaining walls and carrying out slope stabilisation at Nottingham Estate in the amount of $669,022.02 with a joint venture comprising local contractors G-Unit and Junior Mathias.

The contract signing took place at the Administration Complex between the parties, those being Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith and Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), and J. Gregory Hodge of G-Unit and Junior Mathias.

Funding for the contract comes from an amount of $15,670,000.00 approved by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“Using the expertise of local contractors, we have already successfully completed a number of these projects. To date we have executed contracts for engineering consultancy, planning regulations and construction works amounting to $6,120.047.47. Today we are here signing the first contract for 2016,” he said.

According to the Minister, even more pleasing than the fact that local contractors were being utilised, was the fact that two of them have joined forces to take on the work.

“This speaks volumes to your commitment to working with the Government and own a stake in the development of our Virgin Islands,” he said.

According to the Minister, G-Unit/Junior Mathias will be responsible for works at Nottingham Estate. He congratulated the contractors for winning the contract and charged them with timely and on-budget delivery."I expect that we will continue to get value for money," he said.

Speaking following the signing, contractor J. Gregory Hodge said the team will deliver on the contract as expected.

“I would like to say thank you for the confidence that you have placed in Mr Mathias and myself,” said Hodge to the Minister.

He noted that he has experience with CDB contracts and was happy that he is part of a joint venture for this contract. He also said he remains open to joint ventures with other contractors and pointed out that an accountant has been hired to manage the financial matters between the two joint venture partners.

27 Responses to “Hon Vanterpool wants value for money from local contractors”

  • huh (07/01/2016, 16:10) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I feel sorry for jobe.
  • Romney (07/01/2016, 16:16) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Pay back time for political work
  • pat (07/01/2016, 18:25) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    he certainly seems to be spending a lot of money for a lot of jobs. How much is in the budget?
    • dog (07/01/2016, 20:54) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why is everything happening so fast and all of a sudden?
    • Huh? (08/01/2016, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Why don't you read instead of talking nonsense. The CDB loan was for just over $15 mil and to date they have only spent about $4mil, despite this starting 2-3 years ago. CDB are the ones that oversee the spending and the contractors are approved by CDB and their engineers/project team, not the Government, which is why it's taking long and they have to do it properly. It's also why not any regular Joe pretending to be a contractor can get any jobs. This is actually the first time I have seen local contractors on budget and doing things properly because they are forced to and ain't a thing Government can do because the terms of the loan clearly states that CDB will manage it even though it's Govt signing the contracts.
      • Ning Ghost (08/01/2016, 13:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ Huh? I call you out on that BS! CDB works off of the recommendations from MCW and their foot soldiers in other Depts. So GTFOH with your sh!te. CDB do not have anyone here working; rather they come maybe twice annually to see the works completed. Also, I hope this particular contract has the cash flow to carry them on for the prescribed time period for payments and it does not become a challenge for these two 'contractors' riding on the same JV vehicle!
  • wize up (07/01/2016, 19:28) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    whats with the project in sea cows bay; sidewalks being built from May 2015 and all kinds of obstruction on that public highway, one of the most used stretches of roads in the territory
    • Good Question (07/01/2016, 20:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You raise a good point! It cant be a money problem, the minister says they still have more than half of the $16M left, so one has to wonder why all the work has stopped.
    • Yes (07/01/2016, 21:05) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Someone's been paying attention. Action man learned a new phrase, "Value for money". Wonder if he really know what it means. But he not giving us value so how do we get rid of him?
  • BuzzBvi (07/01/2016, 20:48) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    the BVI economy is a house of cards complete with ghost work, massive corruption, capital flight & over-capacity.
    • BuzzBvi (07/01/2016, 22:54) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      Ha Ha,
      Even looks like I could have written that!
      But I was out at the Beach Club at the time!
  • Come on (07/01/2016, 20:59) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    When it comes to the central management of deeds projects, the emperor is indeed not wearing any clothes.
  • Shake my head (07/01/2016, 21:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The politicians keep telling us that they want value for money and it is a good thing. As far as I'm concerned, thoes who asking not giving it, its a virus.
  • BuzzBvi (07/01/2016, 22:52) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    It would be nice to see the contractors finish the project on budget, to a decent standard and tidied up when they are finished. If it can ever truly be declared finished.
    Still waiting for the tidy up of Georgie Hill, Filling in of the hole of the road on Georgie Hill and the installation of the lights on Georgie Hill. Contractor and beneficiaries got their money a long time ago
    What about the guys who install asfalt to have the road survive for more than a couple of weeks then they get paid to do it all over again, an again, and again. Mony, money , money but no road.
    But I guess all who were to get money out of the projects have and so job is done. No real need to have anything for our money at the end.
  • dog (08/01/2016, 00:05) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Value for money- where did he get that phrase, Darley? How is he going to get that? pout and threaten?
    Are there going to be any overseers and inspectors?
  • Charley Rose (08/01/2016, 04:05) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ha, Ha, Ha. There we go again. Another contract signing again. This time is the CDB money. I do hope that they will look carefully at the bills and do not over spend. If there is any corruption in these projects, then Minister Vanterpool is not suitable to hold anymore political office. Wait and see.
  • Agree (08/01/2016, 07:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope he is really serious.. They all say the same.. Its over due.. Too many political cronies take the government for an easy ride
  • Cr**k (08/01/2016, 07:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    value for money? Look who talking

  • Political Observer (08/01/2016, 10:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is the the call for value from contractors an admittance from the MCW that contractors are not providing value for money now? The taxpayers should always be getting value for money from project conception to construction to operation to maintenance. Government should developed good designs that make project constructable and maintainable. Contracts should be awarded at fair and reasonable prices (governments contracts are highly inflated and over priced). Projects should be constructed consistent with plans and specifications. Quality control and quality assurance are vital to this happening. Do not expect what you do not inspect; projects need thorough inspections by qualified inspectors. Contractors should be penalized ( liquidated damages) for their delays. Contractors should only be paid for work put in place and for materials purchased( invoices provide). Government must ensure that contractors meet warranty requirements. Maintain a retainage to ensure that this happens. Terminate contractors for default or convenience as needed. Debar and suspend contractors for consistent poor performance.
    • Diaspora (09/01/2016, 09:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hire as project manager now. Then again he/she won't be effective because of political interference. Just spinning our wheels.
  • Toronto (08/01/2016, 12:29) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Congratulations Mr. hodge well deserving im very proud to be reading this!! youre a man of tremendous intelligence and excellent work ethic, as i took the time to get to know you!! NIT Keep up the great work Sir and always remain cutting edge. !!
  • Royalty (08/01/2016, 14:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I just up-chuked in my mouth! Is this man for real? With the recent revelations on the Ports project can ANYONE take Mr. Snagga puss serious? Heavens to Murgatroyd! Exit stage left! Now if we fairly evaluate this joint venture carefully can we say that either have EVER given VfM? Call a spade a spade, nothing personal just fedup of the waste and crappy works that my tax dollars go towards. Weakest MCW minister ever!!!
  • jokers (09/01/2016, 11:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    JOSTVANDYKE WE ARE NOT GETTING MONEYY FOR NOTHING AT ALLLLLLL
  • tretretrete (10/01/2016, 16:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope they get paid on time


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