Proper assessments needed for approval of landside of Port Project -Report
The premature release of the report has resulted in Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith and Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool criticising the report and jabbing at the Auditor General, Ms Sonia M. Webster.
Hon. Vanterpool went as far as challenging the authenticity of the report and Premier Smith claimed that his Government had done nothing wrong and the people must trust him because they know him personally and that he needs no greater checks and balance than his good conscience and God’s guiding hand!
Landside needs input from experts before approval
One of the many recommendations made by the Auditor General on page 12 (3) is that “major development of the upland should not be approved without the proper assessments as to the need and appropriateness with input from required expert services and public agencies such as Ports Authority, Town and Country Planning, and other stakeholders.”
The report also warned on page 12 (1) that going forward, government projects “must include competitive procurement procedures, full transparency and equitable terms.”
Scope & methodology of report & Skelton-Cline unavailable
While the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government has made many attempts to discredit the Auditor General’s Report, Ms Webster outlined her scope and methodology.
On page 2 (1) she writes “The audit comprised an assessment of the processes employed in procuring and assessing options for the development of the port facilities. It included interviews with key personnel, examination of files, records and documents and a review of the other similar developments. The examination focused on compliance and regularity of the processes as they relate to public procurement and transparency.”
Ms Webster also pointed out that her “examination is not intended to assess or examine the merits or otherwise of the contents of the proposals and submissions received for the cruise pier development. This is deemed the role of the procurement assessment team.”
The report also revealed that the then former consultant to the Minister for Communications and Works on Ports matters, Claude Skelton-Cline, who was “an integral part of the process from December 2011 to November 2012 was unavailable for audit interview.”
The Audit Report on the controversial Port Development Project is allegedly in the hands of the United Kingdom-appointed Governor William B. McCleary and a House of Assembly select Public Accounts Committee, however, it remains unclear what actions will be taken if any.
29 Responses to “Proper assessments needed for approval of landside of Port Project -Report”
If NDP had dealt with the VIP corruption, they wouldn't be here being made to look like the criminals.
WHY IS THIS EVEN AN ISSUE? IT IS THE LAW. I might add that a project of this scope and impact also needs to have a scale model to study for problem areas. It is basic to any responsible architect and developer. They are not above the law!
You see that dam m*** some body need to c...t his asx. He to wothless. And all for himself to believes he caall the first and last shot but just you wait time will tell playing with peoples life. Can emaging can beat something lies this. Serious , serius , they say Echo y venders from the cruise ship dock side area have to move it does not matter whether if you were on the rightside seaside taxlstand side(quality taxi) or even godside you had to move. And be place to the craft alive area
Local and everybody no exception. NOW do the math. every tortolians by birth most of the other venders comply and corporate and do what had to be done and went over to craft alive...haas the minis*** and others reterrate in statement due to the cruiseship bock expansion.along with dppa, since the move tocraft alive their are venders who failed to move from the otherside of the dock doing bussiness same as usual come hell or highwater no business wath govement have to say , they even have the ghuts to make sure they get aplace in craft alive up to this day in opperationbd bo body should say anything getting 2 PIECE OF THE PIE AND NO CRAFT ALIVE VENDERS SHOULD SAY ANY THING WE THE VENDERS ARE TIRED COMLPAINING TO THE MINISTER TELLIN HIM IT IS NOT FAIR FOR VENDERS TO HAVE OVER THEIR AND OVER HERE ( CRAFT ALIVE EVERY BODY NEEDS TO BE IN ONE PLACE IF THEY SAY WE ALL WILL MOVE TO CRAFT ALIVE now YOU THE READING AUDIAUNCE LOOK AT THIS PICTURE IS THIS KIND OF THIING FAIR UYOU BE THE JUDE?. every way you turn these ministers trying to unjust to the people especially the locals. And not listenig to thier cry for justice, iam a born bvilander I make my locsl products aplied for a pace at craft alive to show case my stuff and was not even considered.it upsets me so badly to seethis kind of nonsence, when I ask some of the venders how can they allow this to hapen they replied ask the minister.m*** need to stop foolwe the peilpe thinking we stupid and everytime he goe do something enoug iis enough. The ecconomy is as it .let every body get equal right not some there at craft alive and some still by the cruiseship dock still this causeing two fold play ,the minister needs to stop playing politics and what rigth is right one vendermall one sight as it be. If these venders at quality taxi wanted to be there then why did they make sure they get a spot at craftalive. Why ............couldn,t some other local get those spots this so. So unjust unfair.wakeup mark for sure uncle would do this. These venders couldof never do this sort of foolishness in their country or else.nov.28 is long gone I was there at thst venders meeting. If I was one of those venders I too my self move back to the cruise shipdoc. Where is the justis for locals bro... to is nov.14 2013 I went to look at new ship. Which came for the time (:carnival conquest) and could not behold my eyes to see thst the same venders are still there ajacent next to the taxi stand icouldnt more that mark is full of shit to have them people here for next season. With clothes hanging flying all over the place , ,,, when he and the city manager say that venders at craftalive must not hang anything outside...it seems like the venders is who calling the shots man.....mother son uncle nanin.lord au mercy.irealy admire those ladies at craftalive when I pass to hail them things might be slow. But they hanoing there hope that things will get better and they will be able to give custmer better choices .the odds seem to against us now. But time wiil tell. They made the change and body needs to be one place so every one can have an equal oportunity to mak something.....Survive. yes you mght say the nagative. But you csn always find something unique especaily forladies. Really . I wrote this and know and see what is going on. AS THE SONG SAY HERE MY CRY OH LORD ATTEND ONTO MY PRAYER.
The minister needs to stop this stupidness.and be a man at his word. VINO CHECK OUY THIS NEXT SHIP DAY NOV 17 2013 Royal caribean in place. Sunday double over time pay, not in morning during the day. B ig up craftalive thanks for the culture wear ,next year biger better. See you Sunday for my beach wear canegarden bay here I come.