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Ports project heading downhill with delays; Skelton-Cline takes action!

-Letters being sent back & forth between BVI Ports Authority & Contractors over delays, violation of contract & request by contractors for more money!
This letter obtained by our news room from sources within the BVI Ports Authority, was written by Managing Director Claude Skelton-Cline to IDL Projects and Meridian Construction Joint Venture Co. Ltd., dated January 6, 2015 and stated that the contractor has failed to comply with clause 8.2-Time for Completion of the contact, which is the Northeast berth. Photo: Team of Reporters
Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude Skelton-Cline. It remains unclear what will be the next step for the Ports Development Project which has already faced completion delays. Photo: VINO/File
Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude Skelton-Cline. It remains unclear what will be the next step for the Ports Development Project which has already faced completion delays. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The controversial Ports Development Project, in particular the seaside portion, seems to be facing delays after delays and it remains unclear what the outcome of the project will be.

The National Democratic Party (NDP) regime that sees this project as its meal ticket to the next elections constitutionally due by November of this year but cannot go beyond February 2016 is doing battle with contractors over the delays and violations of clauses in the contract.

However, contractors continue to write the BVI Ports Authority requesting more money for the project.

The latest letter, which was obtained by our news room from sources within the BVI Ports Authority, was written by Managing Director Claude Skelton-Cline to IDL Projects and Meridian Construction Joint Venture Co. Ltd., dated January 6, 2015.

In the letter, Mr Skelton-Cline addressed that the contractor has failed to comply with clause 8.2-Time for Completion of the contact, which is the Northeast berth.

The letter, which is now widely circulated on the streets of Tortola, spoke to the second delay after the original time of the completion date of the seaside portion was already extended.

It seems like the project delays are heading for a showdown that could cost more delays to the project as information obtained by our news room is that IDL Projects and Meridian Constructions Joint Venture Co. Ltd. has already written the BVI Ports Authority requesting more money for the project.

According to the delay pursuant to clause 8.7, the BVI Ports Authority could claim delay damages at a rate of 0.1%.

It remains unclear what will be the next step for the project with this new development.

Contacted for comment, Public Relations Officer at the BVI Ports Authority Ms April T. Glasgow promised a response later in the morning, January 8, 2015 while Mr Percy Rhoden of IDL Projects and Meridian Construction could not be reached.

Ports Project- A dark cloud

While the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) has supported the Ports Development Project they continue to ask questions about the process.

Two reports on the project, one conducted by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly and the other by the Auditor General of the Virgin Islands Mrs Sonia M. Webster, both concluded that the project was filled with conflict of interest, breaking of laws, corruption and that no one was looking out for the public’s interest.

Both Opposition parties- the VIP and the People’ Empowerment Party- have called on the Governor to conduct a Commission of Inquiry into the Project and await a decision from Governor John S. Duncan OBE.

38 Responses to “Ports project heading downhill with delays; Skelton-Cline takes action!”

  • ccc (08/01/2015, 10:56) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Talk about lesks vino you bad
    • Punga (08/01/2015, 12:49) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      What is a lesks?
      • we the people (08/01/2015, 16:47) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
        THE REAL QUESTION IS WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR WITH THE COMMSION OF INQUIRY
        • Serpico (09/01/2015, 06:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          THERE WILL BE NO COMMISSION OF INQUIRY!#$*&. This governor came here less than six months ago. He made statements publicly about not seeing any victimization while it was happening right in front his eyes with the immigration head saga. What make the VI people think he will call an enquiry? I find this governor got into local business and happenings too early to be of any credibility and seriousness about fixing anything. He is just here on a retirement swing then Boom Boom Kaboom he is gone in three years.
  • zoe (08/01/2015, 11:09) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    so it will also mean a delay in elections so VIP tek your time to pick good people to run! BAM
  • chad (08/01/2015, 11:10) Like (19) Dislike (5) Reply
    These are some of the very concerns Fahie & Fraser keep bringing to the forefront among many other major concerns regarding this poorly planned Cruise Pier Development project. I geuss the NDP & their bloggers would try to down play this & try to call Fahie & Fraser liars. Time will tell.
  • Da Rush (08/01/2015, 11:12) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Wonder if we going ever know how much these pier going really cost. so i guess the 35 mil. out the door now.

    go vino go
  • when (08/01/2015, 11:15) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    Gosh man! When will this project be investigated? Will it be after they bankrupt us?
    • war lord (08/01/2015, 12:03) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      I will fire the boss who waits until the project is past due to write a letter who give a project to the lowest bidder who will pay the cruise lines for the delay the tax payers wow doc you better wake up the ship is inches away
  • DEJA VU (08/01/2015, 11:50) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Here we go again. The little guy will be paying for this for many years. like the hospital
  • jail (08/01/2015, 11:54) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    I smell a fat rat in this project!!!
    • Aubrey (08/01/2015, 12:23) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who to blame who will pay n c l and Disney for the contract Disney already pull out for the year they simply say they are business people not poppy shows
  • x factor (08/01/2015, 12:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I just got a copy of this letter well saw
  • fish (08/01/2015, 12:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is more in the mota
  • farmer brwon (08/01/2015, 12:32) Like (21) Dislike (3) Reply
    My suggestion is get rid of C S C
  • here we go again (08/01/2015, 12:45) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    This same nonesense happen under the same so called bright boys NDP with the hospital project now here we go again with the Cruise Pier project. Enough of this NONSENSE! WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR? WHERE IS THE INVESTIGATION?
    • JACK BE STILL (08/01/2015, 22:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      And unfortunately, there are just as many on the gravy train that have zero business bieng in public office as well.
  • in the news (08/01/2015, 12:55) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    On the face of it, good opportunity for the governor to move on this project
  • ann (08/01/2015, 12:56) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The 1st paragraph says it all again! Why do these people have the positions that they hold?
    • Spy (08/01/2015, 13:54) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Donkey in horse race poor Doc he sigh all those contracts and no team to defend that's the rat that Disney smell and pull out the proof is in the pudding talk that
  • wow (08/01/2015, 15:24) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
    Mrs.Jurine George would have been on point with this! the next MD to come! I vote Jurine
  • staff (08/01/2015, 16:46) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    hear claude busting a vain with this leak want lawyer to look into it...well saw pressure bust pipe
    • @ staff (08/01/2015, 20:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

      well he better stay close to his doctor as there are more to come..heard they call in J@ms!e to save the project!!

  • b guth (08/01/2015, 17:00) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    SOME BODY NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL OVER THIS PROJECT END OF STORY
  • Seriously (08/01/2015, 17:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    There is nothing going in the VI so grasp at every little thing.
  • conflect of intrest (08/01/2015, 21:45) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    me heard on the streets there are a few NDPs waste deep meddling in the Ports Project
  • ABC (08/01/2015, 22:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now we are being told that the contractor will complete the one side of the doc some time in March with no commitment for a completion date for the other side. To add insult to injury, most of the stores in the land side development are already in the hands of wealth foreigners who will be given "duty free status." This will be the final nail in Craft Alive's coffin. This whole project is proving to be a bad dream. When will "Mary's little lamb" wake up and smell the coffee.
  • Here we go (09/01/2015, 08:15) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is exactly why we should NOT use local contractors for these big projects, they can never complete on time or properly, as a matter of fact tell us one project that has been completed properly - ever!
  • ta ta (09/01/2015, 12:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the head of the stream is polluted, down river will be polluted too.
  • JACK BE STILL (09/01/2015, 12:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's a shame. They are helping to bring down the country. They are getting paid so they don't care. Unless certain action is taken they wont take their jobs seriously. My BVI, smh
    • shadow (09/01/2015, 14:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Election will come and go and that project will not be finished you ever see a fowl try to swallow a dumpling the Port getting choke like a fowl they have to call Cashman lol
  • pete (09/01/2015, 16:14) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    why is anyone surprised, this is exactly what was predicted. no oversight, experience, cronies, self-interest, intimidated governor who won't step up. The shops and money are going off island, crafts alive being ignored, and we never had the infrastructure to accommodate the 4000 new people at once. (450,000 a yr? I don't think so). I think I will go to Cuba with everyone else.
  • Bull (09/01/2015, 17:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    this letter has no real significance other than for the PA to warn IDL that they are progressing a bit slow. How slow, we don't know. All this hype about nothing. Pure politics.
  • Nutty Prof (10/01/2015, 15:51) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The poor spelling in these posts is driving me absolutely nuts. It's such a bad reflection on our community that every Dick, Tom and Harry with a computer jumps on here clearly unable to read and write properly, and writes crap. So embarrassing -
    'don't mention the CURRUPT word' - it sound soh but t' ain spell soh - CORRUPT - jeez!
    'more in the MOTA' - MORTAR!!!! Use google. It will tell you what it means!
    'hear claude BUSTING a VAIN' - again, that thing that carry blood back to the heart after it dump the oxygen? it sound soh but t'ain spell soh - VEIN, and BURSTING!!!
    'pressure bust pipe' - same principle as above - BURST
    'a few NDPs WASTE deep' - weh dem is? WAIST deep in waste at Pockwood Pond?
    I should really have been an English teacher as then I'd have been a part of the solution and not a bystander watching us fail!!!!
    • PAM (11/01/2015, 13:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I used to be the same way until I realized that some is local dialect privy to local slang and phrases. But basic spelling is just that, basic. much is part of phonics and speech patterns themselves. I care more about the logic in argument and viewpoint than typos or undereducated attempts in writing. some of the smartest people I know never went to school. truth!


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