More corroborating evidence of corruption on Ports Project - PAC source
According to our sources inside the ruling National Democratic Party, the Opposition Virgin Islands Party and the new People's Empowerment Party there were some six other officers who testified before the Committee and collaborated evidence of corruption, red flags, irregularities and questionable circumstances leading to the conclusion that more investigation into the project is required.
Other officers’ corroborating evidence
It is reported that the former Deputy Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Gene E. Creque, Ministry of Finance’s Policy Analyst Jeremiah Frett, Former Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Arlene Smith-Thompson and two Ports Board members Naomi Turnbull and Clyde Chalwell all testified with a degree of consistency as it relates to the alarming state on how the early stages of the Ports Development Project was administered.
According to one source, their testimonies, currently being added to the PAC final report confirmed usurping of the duties and responsibilities of the BVIPA Board, and reinforced earlier statements that the Ports Board was excluded from important decisions in regards to the Ports Development Project and when they were involved it was simply to rubber stamp decisions already made outside of the Board.
The information from the other officers that has not been made public according to the same source unearthed the lack of transparency on the project and many allegedly questionable payments made on the project even before the BVI PA Board or Government via Cabinet had approved the project or before the public tender had been completed.
Also testifying before the PAC was the current Financial Comptroller of the BVIPA Ms. Myrthlyn Hodge. It remains unclear when the final report will be laid on the table of the House of Assembly (HoA).
It was on April 17, 2014 that the Interim Special Report was laid on the table of the Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly by Chairman of PAC and Opposition Leader Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.
In an unprecedented move and in violation of the house rules Sec 14 (3) Speaker of the HoA Honourable Ingrid A. Moses allowed the Communications and Works Minister Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool to bring a motion and debate the PAC report on the Ports Development Project.
Hon. Vanterpool has also taking out paid Radio and TV ads on his speech from the HoA to discredit the PAC report, however, it remains unclear if it has had any effect on how the people of the Virgin Islands regard the situation and the dark cloud that hangs over the project.
Millions & Millions & more!
It was discovered that the former Managing Director of the Ports Authority Vincent V. O'Neal and the former Acting Chairman Gregory W. Adams were given instructions to pay over $3Million dollars for piles early in the life of the project which they had serious concerns about. Mr. O’Neal reported that the request came through the then Consultant to the Ports Authority Claude Skelton-Cline who told him the request originated from Minister Vanterpool.
The current Chairman of the Ports Board J. Edward DeCastro also told the PAC about another $1.7 million request to be paid to Tortola Pier Partners (TTP) for drawings for the ports project. The money has since been paid in full according to a Ports Authority senior employee.
The former Managing Director Mr. O’Neal also said according to the PAC report on page 13 that a Mr. Jay Cashman who he met at the Moorings from TPP requested of him that the passenger tax be paid directly to TPP.
A request to break the laws?
To this request Mr. O’Neal advised Mr. Cashman that this was a violation of the laws and that the passenger tax must be paid to the BVI Ports Authority or the central government. The former Managing Director told the PAC that he was invited to a meeting with TPP’s Mr. Cashman by Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Vanterpool and on another occasion by then Ports Consultant Claude Skelton-Cline according to the PAC report (now a public document) on page 12, No. 98.
Auditor General Report says much of what PAC found
The report by the five-member PAC with Hon. O’Neal as the Chairman said it finds that the concerns raised by the Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster in the Auditor General Report dated January 31, 2013 on the Port Development Project have merit and required in-depth investigations.
The Auditor General's Report of last year on the Ports Development Project 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.
It remains unclear if the PAC’s call for ‘further in-depth investigations” meant that they are calling for a Commission of Inquiry that is usually set up by the Governor.
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69 Responses to “More corroborating evidence of corruption on Ports Project - PAC source”
the project....if started.....will dominate the news for years to come.
Why is the media being blame?