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PAC calls on Governor to appoint Commission of Inquiry!

-The Public Accounts Committee wants the controversial Cruise Ship Port Development Project to be investigated, also endorses the Auditor General Report on the project
Both the Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (left) and now Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude O. Skelton-Cline are at the centre of the Ports Development scandal. Former Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Mrs. Arlene Smith-Thompson told the Public Accounts Committee in her testimony that both Vanterpool and Cline were actively involved in the Ports Development Project and her efforts to guide them on the process were “largely disregarded.” Photo: VINO/File
The Public Accounts Committee endorsed the Auditor General’s Report released last year by Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster. The Auditor General's Report 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 that no one was looking out for the interest of the people and taxpayers of the Virgin Islands, putting the people at a disadvantage. Photo: VINO/File
The Public Accounts Committee endorsed the Auditor General’s Report released last year by Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster. The Auditor General's Report 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 that no one was looking out for the interest of the people and taxpayers of the Virgin Islands, putting the people at a disadvantage. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The plot thickens on the damaging report authored by the House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee with compelling evidence of corruption, usurpation of the role of the BVI Ports Authority Board, breaking of laws of the Virgin Islands, absence of transparency, and officers withholding information from the committee to name a few.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a Parliamentary Committee chaired by Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.

It is a five member committee made up of three political parties in the House of Assembly (HoA). Its members are Virgin Islands Party members Hon. O’Neal (R9) Hon. Andrew A. Fahie (R1), the ruling National Democratic Party members, Hon. Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Alvera Maduro-Canies (R6) and the People’s Empowerment Party Hon. J. Alvin Christopher (R2).

We want a Commission of Inquiry - Report

The report which was leaked to selective media houses over the weekend ahead of it been made public on June 13, 2014 now provides evidence and documentation on how the Ports Pier Project was conducted and the many red flags raised.

In the summary report on page 32, 8 the Public Accounts Committee recommends that the Governor appoints a Commission of Inquiry to examine the propriety of the process through which the Cruise Ship Port Development was handled, in the view of the evidence gathered during the Public Accounts Committee Process which clearly show;

i. Disregard for public process in the procurement of a major public project;
ii. Absence of transparency in the handling of the public business;
iii. Engagement of companies, consultants and individuals without sourcing alternatives;
iv. Consistent and ongoing association between parties representing the Government side and the contractors through processes that were deficient in achieving any positive public purpose yet incurring ongoing and unjustified cost to the public purse.

The PAC reports also made allegations of the breaking of laws of the Virgin Islands in which it stated on page 31, 1 in the summary that “the government spent two years and countless resources engaging processes that were contrary to Public Financial Management Regulations, in contravention of the BVI Ports Authority Act, non-transparent and untenable.”

The PAC Report also blasted the Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool for what it described as his “failure to confer with the Authority on the Cruise Ship  Port Project”…as a result this “led to a costly redesign for the Government and the Authority in terms of time and resources.”

PAC endorsees Auditor General Sonia M. Webster’s Report

It was last year that the Virgin Islands Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster conducted her own investigations of the Ports Development Project.

One of the revelations in the Auditor General Report is that the developer recommended and approved by the National Democratic Party Government, the Tortola Pier Park (TPP) Group, had named the BVI Investment Club as its local partner, page 11 (61).

The Auditor General's Report 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 that no one was looking out for the interest of the people and taxpayers of the Virgin Islands, putting the people at a disadvantage.

In the PAC’s own report on page 31, 3 they agreed with the findings of the Auditor General’s Report which were substantiated by the evidence furnished to the Committee during the Committee’s investigation of the project.

After the final Public Accounts Committee Report is laid in the House of Assembly on Friday June 13, 2014 it then becomes a public document.

It is unclear if a debate will be allowed on the House floor on Friday, or how long the Governor will take before agreeing to a Commissioner of Inquiry or if anyone will end up in jail or have to resign their office.

28 Responses to “PAC calls on Governor to appoint Commission of Inquiry!”

  • xxxxxxxx (12/06/2014, 08:31) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    now tis ting to talk ma bouy
    • THEMLOOKING (12/06/2014, 10:32) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
      Keep doing your internal fighting, there are those who are lookig on who are neither NDP or VIP. When the manacles of wanting NDP go and VIP in the tow passes, the whip of the Crown will be ten times harder. Look around, my people, and consider what in-house fighting will do for the future of the VI.
  • Hmm (12/06/2014, 08:39) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    Do not waste your time Uncle Ralph thinking this current governor will do anything he will NOT!!!! We know his history
  • virgin gorda (12/06/2014, 08:43) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is the straw that breaks the Camel's Back . NDP must go
  • xxxxxxxx (12/06/2014, 08:49) Like (20) Dislike (9) Reply

    Let NDP and them COW BIRDS take that!

    Just three short years and look what we got from the NDP…anytime I hear them call VIP corrupt I will throw hot p...s in them face!!!! BOOM!!

  • ccc (12/06/2014, 08:57) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    This has been long in coming
    • AC 360 (12/06/2014, 15:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      What qualifications he has to be at the Port and the other one to be a Minister??
      • Shara Parlin (13/06/2014, 01:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        In terms of political process, the way the game was played, you have to appreciate the SKILLS of defense and offense.
  • ABC (12/06/2014, 10:34) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dr. Smith has been warned time and time again about these two men and what has he done other than wish that it would pass away. I will say this much, the people of this Territory would be very disappionted if the Governor and Dept. Governor remain indifferent to what is being reported.
  • Forbidden Truth (12/06/2014, 10:52) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can responsible men agree to schemes that would bring their questionable reputation into question and public disgrace? And for what? Speak truth to justice always. There is NOTHING WRONG with DOING the RIGHT THING
  • mother hen (12/06/2014, 11:26) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lord Have Mercy
  • Observer (12/06/2014, 12:26) Like (3) Dislike (22) Reply
    Pac needs to go packing with this sh.......t the project is on the way ,what will they gain nothing but a lost at the polls or loose lots of votes.The country finally begin to move and they want to stop progress i'm so sorry for those lame ducks..
  • farmer boy (12/06/2014, 12:41) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Only time and the voters can deal with this matter
  • PICTURE PERFECT (12/06/2014, 12:48) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    MINISTER: U BETTER HOLD ON TO WHAT U COULD GET!

    PASTOR: BUT THE LORD EYES IS UPON US.

    MINISTER: YEA BUT NOT HIS HANDS SO USE IT AND TEK WEY FI WE SELF!

    LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
  • bird man (12/06/2014, 13:31) Like (2) Dislike (13) Reply
    mark and the ndp did nothing wrong i voting for them still
  • leave time b (12/06/2014, 13:47) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    dr u need to put 2 guys on long term leaves if not u all will feel d beating in 2016
  • country before party (12/06/2014, 14:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you are digging a hole for people, be careful you are not the one who fall in it
    • @ country before party (12/06/2014, 15:02) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      same thing i told mvw last week he better watch it
  • open wide (12/06/2014, 15:01) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look at dem body language buddy, BIG ME!!!!! IF THE FED COULD NOT GET ME THEN LIL TOLA NOT GOING TO MATTER AND I COULD GO BACK TO ANGULLIA !
  • small question (12/06/2014, 15:12) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Does this NDP Goverment realize the seriousness of these accusations in the PAC report??
  • Release (13/06/2014, 00:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    mek wi so teef bout ere!!
  • Native Boy (13/06/2014, 01:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whether its personal animosity, ideological purity or some other reason, the NDP only chance to win the next election is ZERO
  • JACK BE STILL (13/06/2014, 10:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Claude bouy keep prayin for your enemies
  • push (13/06/2014, 20:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Long overdue!
  • JACK BE STILL (14/06/2014, 06:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing better exposes the utter criminality of this deal than the media.
  • y (14/06/2014, 10:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lock um up
  • For true (19/06/2014, 09:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look a Rat Pack for real. The AG Office is long over due in investigating and prosecuting alleged corruption of government officials. If there are allegations of impropriety no matter who it is, the matter should be investigated, and prosecuted accordingly. This is what happens in civil countries. What are we?


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