Ports project cost soaring @ almost $83M
The Minister was giving a ‘Statement by Minister’ today during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly in Road Town, the Virgin Islands’ Capital City.
However, the Minister failed to address the allegations of corruption, overspending and political direction levelled against him and the National Democratic Party Government by former Project Coordinator Hugh E. Darley who made some scathing allegations prior to and during his visit in December 2015.
The Minister went through a lot of detail regarding the spending on the project and listed the cost for various undertakings.
He said the total cost of the marine side of the project came up to $36.8 million. He called this phase of the project a major boost to the economy of the Virgin Islands because of the number of vendors and service providers who supplied the project.
In addition, the Minister said the landside development and all its related spending came up to a total of $37 million. He said with the addition of soft and administrative costs the total for the entire project came up to $82.9 million.
The Minister said that $50M will come from CIBC First Caribbean; $8.1 million plus $10.2 million from the BVI Ports Authority; $8 million from the Government; $5 million from the Social Security Board; and $1.5 million from public offering, for a total to $82.9 million.
He was also adamant that the Tortola Pier Park would be officially opened on February 16, 2016 as previously announced after failing to meet the December deadline. There have been criticisms as to whether such a deadline is possible.
Allegations of overspending
In an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online on December 20, 2015 former developer of the ports project, American Mr Hugh E. Darley said when he was part of the project it was planned that the project would have been built for 45 million dollars.
“In August of 2013 I had approved plans from Town and Country Planning. I had a contractual arrangement in place with people to build the facility for 45 million dollars. Today they have reduced the project and overspent,” he said. I know there is not value for money,” Mr Darley alleged.
There was, however, an apparant falling out among the parties concerned and Mr Darley is now claiming that Government owes him some $2M for his drawings. He has since produced evidence of this after Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith recently claimed that Mr Darley was paid all his monies.
The public was hoping to hear the subject Minister address these serious allegations in the HoA but again it has been left to come up with its own conclusions.
Meanwhile, the controversial cruise pier project is to undergo an audit called by Government. Critics have lambasted Government for seemingly calling an audit on itself. It is not even clear if the subject minister and other officials close to the project would be disconnected from their responsibilities to facilitate the audit and allow at least for a perception of non-interference.
51 Responses to “Ports project cost soaring @ almost $83M”
NDP bloggers fighting hard. Your boys stole the money and wait until pressure gets applied to the oneboy he going to snitch like he did in D*****
82.9 million is unforgiveable given the original budget figures. You have NOTHING to be proud of Mr. minister and in fact, I should think you have a great deal of explaining to do.
The fact that this is the same government that intends to embark on a multi, multi million dollar expansion for the airport runway is truly frightening? I hope the taxpayers know what's coming! Based on the fact that Minister Pickering announced that the government will be building it, we can likely take whatever the projected budget may be and double it in the name of incompetence.
Lord help us all!
FORTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARES and you cant build COUPLE BUILDINGS? No wonder everybody want contracts. SOMEBODY NEED TO GO THE JAIL.
I went out there and it’s a shame how it’s not even halfway ready, Jan near over and they want to have the NEXT Official Grand opening in feb? march? April? Look another hospital
Was anyone really tracking and monitoring this project or it was an open checkbook project ? The MCW got all kind of engineers on staff with some even having doctorates in engineering. This is a national embarrasment. Where was the HOA when all this was occurring? Did the HOA approve this hefty change order and if they did they need to fired forthwith. This is giving Hugh Darley credence.
Moreover, what is the opportunity cost of this gross overspending? Lots of things did not get done because of this overspending. Who review the design for constructability and maintainability? Whoever they are need to hang their head in shame, for they are culprits in this national SNAFU. A whole lot of credibility is lost with this project. Non-engineers need to leave engineering to trained, educated and experienced professionals. For the millionth time, public works need to be led and managed by a seasoned engineer. This (port project) is a disgrace to the engineering profession.
I have reviewed the comments made by “Political Observer” for many years and have found the comments made very reasonable. However in this case, the comments that have been made needs to be escalated.
How can the people of the Virgin Islands “where I was borne and unaccepted," accept such unaccountability for checks and balances. A full independent audit is needed. The money trail requires thorough audit. I am certain the former Auditor General will be fully vindicated.
I am calling "All Experienced Professional" from the Virgin Islands living “abroad” to form a correlation and take some time out from our busy schedule to investigate this claim. Let us save the extra money being spent to internally investigate. The Virgin Islander future generation is at take. Cannot be ignored any longer!
I have also heard this type of eschewed myopic mental processing being echoed by the small group of islands elites. There is a beginning and an end for everything under the sun; and as such, it is important to take into account that we all are standing in/on the shoulders (sweat and tears) of our ancestors before us, so you were not the beginning and you certainly would not be the end. There is always our Great neutralizer, “Death,” or do you think you are an immortal that will live forever. This is yet another reason why we have allowed a culture of dysfunction to exist and engulfed us. The future will determine our actions.
82.9
The Cookie Monster pale in comparison to.... Kv. This man should not be allowed to walk free. What he did to this country is paramount to capital murder. Is he he going to get away with this atrocity? Governor Duncan please come out of hiding and represent the people, as you were appointed to do. Stop fooling around and do your job.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yq3TQoMjXTw