Repairs to HLSCC, which was damaged during the hurricanes of September 2017, was the subject of many question in the Thursday July 19, sitting of the HoA. Photo: VINO file

Leader of the Opposition, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) questioned the Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) as to the repairs to the HLSCC campus and the contracts issued. Photo: VINO file

One such question came from Leader of the Opposition, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) addressed to the Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL).

He asked Mr Walwyn, "if the repairs to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, as a result of  hurricanes Irma and Maria had commenced, the name of the contractor(s), amount of each contract, process used to select contractor, competitive bid or otherwise and the source of funds."

Did he answer truthfully?

In his response Hon Walwyn said “it is important to reiterate that the College is a Statutory Body which has its own legal personality and handles their own legal and financial affairs through the Board of Governors.” He continue, “Madam Speaker, the following is a list of contractors [did not read out] engaged to carry out aspects of the recovery work at the College along with the description of works as well as why the various persons were contracted.”

However, red flags started going up when the Minister refused to read the names of the contractors indicating that persons “shy away from doing work for the government so as to avoid their names being called”; to which the Leader of the Opposition objected as he insisted that according to the rules of the House, there’s nothing to prohibit the reading of the names and hence, they should be read. “It’s the people’s business,” Hon Fahie uttered.

What are they hiding?

Coming to Hon Walwyn’s defense, once Hon Fahie had rattled him, was Hon Archibald C. Christian (AL)  who queried from the Leader of the Opposition, “where in the rules does it say they (the names) should be read?”

However,  the Speaker of the House, Hon Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe intervened and stated that, according to the rules the answers to question should be read. Nonetheless, the Speaker may have shown her usual bias as she did not instruct Mr Walwyn to read the complete answers. Instead, the document was handed over.

Millions in no bid?

The document showed and unearthed that in a No Bid Process of the four contracts issued; Autland Heavy Equipment Company Limited received two contracts. One for remedial work on main building for the sum of $24,860.00 and the second contract for repair of the main building for the sum of $1,280,193.67.

In addition, because of how Mr Walwyn has micro managed his Ministry and all departments under his portfolio, statutory or not, many are asking on social media what was his role in the selection of the contractors.

The Minister is currently under audit investigation for a small wall he authorised to be built around the Elmore Stoutt High School costing taxpayers over $1.6M.