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Is Gov Duncan in hiding over Ports Project CoI?

-Pressure continues to mount on the Governor to call a Commission of Inquiry over the controversial Ports Development Project; some have asked for him to be removed from office for neglecting his duties
Pressure is mounting on Governor John S. Duncan to call a Commission of Inquiry over the controversial Ports Development Project. Photo: VINO/GIS/File
Both reports on the Ports Development Project have detailed the role of Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude O. Skelton Cline (right). Photo: VINO/File
Both reports on the Ports Development Project have detailed the role of Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude O. Skelton Cline (right). Photo: VINO/File
There have been two reports/investigations carried out on the Ports Development Project. The first was done by the Auditor General Ms Sonia M. Webster in the Auditor General Report dated January 31, 2013 and the second by the five-member Public Accounts Committee with Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE as the Chairman. Photo: VINO
There have been two reports/investigations carried out on the Ports Development Project. The first was done by the Auditor General Ms Sonia M. Webster in the Auditor General Report dated January 31, 2013 and the second by the five-member Public Accounts Committee with Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE as the Chairman. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- When United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan, OBE came to the Virgin Islands last year he assured the people of the Virgin Islands, in a speech to the House of Assembly, that he is committed to good governance, integrity and the rule of law.

The jury is still out on whether he can be relied upon on any of those important issues.

Background on Commission of Inquiry on Ports

Weeks after the Governor arrived in the Virgin Islands (VI) in August of 2014 he told a handpicked set of reporters that he will make a decision on a Commission of Inquiry (COI) before the end of the same year.

In a subsequent interview with this news site, he confirmed to do so by the end of 2014. However, he left a window open that certainly by January 2015 he would make his announcement. As of today, some three months into the year, he has failed to keep his word to the people.

The CoI was requested following two reports, one by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by Opposition Leader Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE and the other by VI Auditor General Sonia M. Webster.

What will he look for?

The Governor also made it clear to this news site last year that his investigation will go deeper than the two reports because the allegations are serious.

Governor Duncan said he would look for those who blatantly violated the tender process and whether the violations were because people didn’t know what those procedures were or whether people attempted to circumvent the procedures. Further, if they did try to circumvent the procedures the Governor said he intended to find out why they did it. The other question of whether any of the circumventions were for personal gain was also a concern the Governor told this news site he would look into.

Duncan under fire for shifting focus

Instead of focusing on the serious matter at hand-the COI on the Ports Development Project- the Governor claimed he also wanted to look into two other projects at the same time- the Greenhouse and the Sea Cows Bay Harbour Projects.

However, talk show host Sam J. Henry blasted Governor Duncan on this, saying that the Governor is playing politics and those projects have not gone thought the correct procedure of the Public Accounts Committee for their own investigations.  Mr Henry, a popular talk show host, said that the Governor was mixing up apples and oranges and should focus on the Ports Development Project, which had the scrutiny of two independent reports. 

Duncan’s latest position

In a telephone call to the Governor’s Office on Wednesday March 4, 2015 of this week, Mr Duncan now maintained that he will have a decision and announcement in a matter of weeks. This is what he told our news room last month and, through his office, has maintained that position.

However, there is lot of public discontentment over his flip-flopping on this issue and one talk show host, Edmund G. Maduro, has even called for Governor Duncan’s removal from office. Mr Maduro, a former Chief Immigration Officer, said the Governor is obligated to carry out the request of the PAC, a constitutional body with members from both Government and Opposition.

Two reports on Ports project make same conclusion

There have been two reports/investigations carried out on the Ports Development Project. The first was done by the Auditor General Ms Sonia M. Webster in the Auditor General Report dated January 31, 2013.

The second was by the five-member Public Accounts Committee with Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE as the Chairman.

Both reports’ conclusion were the same in that they unearthed corruption, conflict of interest, disregard for the laws of the Virgin Islands, unfair practices, undue influence in favour of one developer, disregard for the established tendering process and found that no one was looking out for the interest of the people and taxpayers of the Virgin Islands, putting the people at a disadvantage.

35 Responses to “Is Gov Duncan in hiding over Ports Project CoI?”

  • DON Q (06/03/2015, 12:13) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Well saw tis time to march
    • Mark & Myron (06/03/2015, 14:37) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      the ndp know who they need to get rid of before these few people cost them them the next elections.
      • ha (07/03/2015, 09:47) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        In your dreams!! M &M are the reason anybody still studying NDP. Especially Myron.
  • report (06/03/2015, 12:34) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    NOTHING THERE! If he touch the port, he has to touch the others. The PAC doesn't have to tell him about SCBay and others for him to touch them. Learn the rules of engagement and stop talking foolishness. TPP is not developing a pier park, Ports Authority are, so what will the inquiry be on? Not what's going on out there for sure. LOL!
    • @ report (06/03/2015, 14:26) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply

      Hush your thieving "$$ trying to justify…you should be in jail…for stealing the people money

    • Just saying... (06/03/2015, 14:34) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      I am having a major problem here with this attempt by them paid bloggers to pass the buck
  • question (06/03/2015, 12:35) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    why do we even need a governor anyways their job is basically to do nothing
  • onlooker (06/03/2015, 12:41) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Give it a break.At least some minster doing working in the BVI
    • ... (06/03/2015, 14:40) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Where is his Excellency the Governor Ducan? Is he still here on island???? he claims he love to read the blogs but look like his PC is broken.. tell him go infinate soltions for a new one
  • pat (06/03/2015, 13:11) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    even if he wants to take more time, he should at least address the public with his progress.
    Looking into several cases at once will not allow for a thorough investigation of any of them in depth.
    One at a time, Governor. This smacks of "spin doctors" while the cruise project races forward. It is anti-democratic, and not good governance, let alone lacking transparency. And we are left with something that will change the character of BVI forever!
    • LOL! (06/03/2015, 14:02) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply

      Pat you, dog and sherry will get the $h1tting and a heart attack when the Governor makes his statement. There is NOTHING THERE! Your hatred for NDP will make you sick. You never asked for the Governor to intervene when VIP was there wasting millions but all of a sudden he should? Take a drive out by the pier and see PROGRESS!!!!!

      • @ lol (06/03/2015, 16:59) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
        I did and saw a bunch of island man working nothing for locals
      • @ LOL! (07/03/2015, 19:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        the NDP and them paid bloggers are in great denial. They doesn't understand that they doesn't have a shred of credibility.
      • pat (08/03/2015, 00:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Does "progress" mean the end justifies the means? that it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there? I don't like what happened in SCB either (it is a travesty) but we are talking about one case at a time. If the cruise ship land side is based on skirting laws and personal gain, is it right? Was there any transparent review by the public at multiple meetings? And two elected bodies strongly suggest investigation. If nothing is found- fine. Besides, we don't have the infrastructure, organization for thousands of visitors at a time when the territory needs steady electricity, water, internet, sewage, food and agriculture, roads, affordable housing etc. Play-acting is dishonest and unsustainable.
  • Caption (06/03/2015, 14:03) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Mark picture caption, he's looking at Pat, Sherry, Dog and VIP asking "Why you mad bro?" " You mad or nah?"..lMAO!!!!!
  • weed (06/03/2015, 14:27) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    we need to pition the FCO NOW
  • facts man (06/03/2015, 14:31) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    If NDP will not Accept Blame For the corruption on the Ports project then we must send dem a very strong message! NDP must go! It's simple.
  • big head (06/03/2015, 14:42) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    this is one very very very cloudy project
  • the cry of the people (06/03/2015, 14:44) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    NDP MUST GO
  • Plz Note (06/03/2015, 15:16) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    The Governor is not elected here. You cant vote him out. You cant decide he got to go. You cant just hate on him the way it happen in the typical work places when someone dont be what you want them to be and fire him. Its ok to just chat chat chat then shut up when you fed up. He is the queen's representative and you can not jail him or punish him in another way, no matter what he do or dont do, whether you like it or not. The BVI belongs to the Queen. She put him here in charge. You dont have to like his decisions and choices for the way forward or backward. Stick it or leave on a plane to another planet.
    • NDP attack dog (06/03/2015, 15:55) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      TELL THEM! They acting like their words can do the Governor anything. Edmund says the Governor has to go. LMAO! Who is Edmund? The Queen will laugh at him.
  • Bushmaster (06/03/2015, 19:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on Gov, bring it on. Lets get the COIs flowing and flush some of that nastiness out in the open
  • Citizen (06/03/2015, 20:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    There should be greater efforts placed on compliance.
  • Nonsense in its purest form (06/03/2015, 20:56) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I listen aT THE MRRONING some days ago to a little exchange on ow the NDP guys tryingto cover this uo and I have to say..... #pathetic.
  • The Observer (06/03/2015, 21:07) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    What I am observing here is disturbing. Since nothing is being done to curb the behavior of these public employees, the situation is getting progressively worse. Certain employees at the Port are being given $10,000 dollar increase in salary, a $3 million dollar, no tender contracts has been given our to a friend of the family and there is more in the pipe line including the doubling of the corrupt man's salary. If something is not done and done sooner than later, this country will become second only to Detroit.
  • my view (06/03/2015, 21:10) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leadership? Decorum? Not even once Mr. Ducan has shoed us that he has that!
  • SR (07/03/2015, 06:48) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Inquiry is what is needed on all recent projects. Then we will see just how corrupt these guys are (BOTH PARTIES) as corrupt as all the other OT. Time they were stopped and good governance put in place. The island will become bankrupt and then outsiders will run it. Either the owners of the big projects, or U.K. herself. Come on Governor, stand up and make the call for a complete inquiry!!!
  • Liat 521 (07/03/2015, 08:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    we need that lady governor here from Angulla..Ducan has failed
  • ann (07/03/2015, 08:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    we need this CIO so we will get to the turth!
  • @ Observer (07/03/2015, 09:50) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    You have absolutely no clue what you are speaking about.
  • Windy (07/03/2015, 13:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    He's been busy getting things ready to d....ve House of Assembly !

  • Forbidden Truth (09/03/2015, 13:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    He wants to wait till after elections to deal with this


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