Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

No-bid contracts continue under NDP gov’t, why? - Claude O. Skelton-Cline

- “Raises more questions than answers… we have to bring a stop to this,” he says.
Claude O. Skelton-Cline, former Managing Director of BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) and social commentator is questioning how no-bid contracts continue under the NDP Government with no repercussions. Photo: Facebook
SA Architect, the company involved in the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) Wall scandal, received another ESHS No-bid contract. Photo: VINO/File
SA Architect, the company involved in the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) Wall scandal, received another ESHS No-bid contract. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHER'S BAY, Tortola, VI: On an episode of ‘Honestly Speaking,’ dated November 6, 2018, Claude O. Skelton-Cline is questioning how the National Democratic Party (NDP) government continues to have no-bid contracts under their watch with absolutely no repercussions.

Skelton-Cline raised the issue during his opening commentary whilst interviewing Virgin Islands Party Candidate for District Three, Dr Arlene L. Smith-Thompson on his afternoon radio show on ZBVI 780AM.

Baffling

 “It continues to be baffling, I’m amazed that these things continue to happen,” he says, “It has to do with principle and process that we must follow particularly given the current context, the challenges that we are facing in this territory with good governance which basically speaks to two components: accountability and transparency”.

He said he took note of the recent Cabinet reports, “one in particular which came to us on the news about these ongoing no-bid contracts for the 'L' shaped building at the Elmore Stoutt High School… How do you know on principle that you’re getting value for money? How do you know that you’re getting the best result that needs to be yield?” he questioned.

He says it is important that these kind of matters are looked into as it relates to the ‘cloud’ that continues to hang over the ESHS and the Ministry of Education and the Audit Report, “here we are finding out a week later, that the same government is issuing these no-bid contracts,” he says.

Principles

“But set all that aside, just on principle, just on the process that need to take place particularly in the current context of our territory where there is a complete breach of the public’s trust, we just have to do a better job,” the ZBVI radio hosts insists.

Mr Skelton-Cline said the NDP Ministers, the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) continue to sit and carry on business as if nothing has happened and questions why even the Governor His Excellency Agustus J. U. Jaspert is allowing "these things" to persist.

6 Responses to “No-bid contracts continue under NDP gov’t, why? - Claude O. Skelton-Cline ”

  • Come Clean First (08/11/2018, 09:12) Like (24) Dislike (19) Reply
    I don't understand why people listen to you and why what you say is news worthy. You need to come clean about the pier and your dealings before I can listen to you talk about other people.

    You admitted you did not tell one hundred percent. Clean your house first sir.
  • wize up (08/11/2018, 09:16) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    old folks use to say leave dat!!!!
    we have to many loopholes in the current legislation and none of the 13 is seeking to have the current legislation amended: all manner of bills are brought before the House of Assembly with the exception bills that will stop the ease by which politicians can manipulate the current system......
  • qc (08/11/2018, 10:11) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    Keep on them cLaude
  • @come clean first (08/11/2018, 12:46) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    You make the first move.
  • E. Leonard (09/11/2018, 12:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    To promote fairness, transparency, openness, greater opportunity.......etc in procuring public goods and services, procurements, ie, construction, design, maintenance, goods & services, equipment....etc should be bidded out. Nevertheless, there are circumstances/situations where no bids are in the best interest of the public. These circumstances include genuine emergencies, ie, to protect life, to protect property, to continue services/functions; sole source (one supplier) procurements .....etc. Low, responsive and responsible and firm fixed price bids are often used to promote fairness in the bidding process and to award contracts. For example, Bidder A is the low, responsive and responsible bidder and wins the bid. Low bids are driven/awarded by price, not quality, experience......etc; they are useful for very small procurements. A better contract mechanism is best value; under best value, price, along with other factors, ie, experience, capacity/capability, capital, current work
    load, past performance......etc are considered. A low bid, coupled with poor performance, is not in the public interest. Further, some services should not be awarded based on low bid, i.e., engineering services, architectural services......etc.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.