PAC calls on Governor to appoint Commission of Inquiry!
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!”
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!!
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