UPDATE: No jobs will be lost in BVIEC & W&SD merger- Works Minister
This is according to Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool who in the same breath said he was not sure on the details of the impending modus operandi as a committee has been set up to deal with the merger.
“I think what we are looking to do is to merge the two groups and we don’t expect that there will be any major change. I know we have some major works and some increased works that we are going to be putting on both groups which will require human resources so we hope that there wouldn’t be any change, I think you are talking about layoffs and so to get directly to the point, we don’t expect that.” said Hon Vanterpool.
This announcement was made by the Works Minister at a press conference held at Maria’s by the Sea on July 23, 2013 as he sought to bring the Territory up to speed on some of the issues being addressed by his ministry.
Still not being clear on the rationale behind the merger, Hon. Vanterpool said work has already commenced to have the merger realised and that a committee has been working specifically on the initiative. “We have asked the Attorney General’s Office along with our group to look at the legislative process that may be involved and so they are working towards this to be able to present to the Ministry a final report on how and where and when we will address this.”
Hon. Vanterpool said the proposals will have to be put to Cabinet before the merger can take effect but he was very confident that it is a move that is necessary.
See previous article posted July 23, 2013:
Govt to merge BVIEC & W&SD
- Not looking to bring in new ferry service- Hon. Vanterpool
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Minister for Communications and works, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool, announced at a press briefing today, July 23, 2013 that the Water and Sewerage Department (W&SD) and the BVI Electricity Company will be merged from January 1, 2014.
While the rationale behind this was not disclosed to the media, Hon. Vanterpool said work has already commenced to have this realised.
The press briefing, held at Maria’s by the Sea, was called by the Ministry of Communications and Works to update the media on the various ongoing projects across the Territory.
Regarding the Port Pier Project, the Minister said Government is now awaiting approval from the United Kingdom and once that is done the project would commence by midsummer. A public meeting has been organised for tomorrow evening to further discuss matters of the Port Pier Project.
Hon. Vanterpool also announced that Government is not looking at bringing in another ferry service to the Virgin Islands but that it is looking at attracting better ferry boats to the Territory and will see improved service between St Thomas and the Virgin Islands by November 1, 2013.
More details to follow.
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47 Responses to “UPDATE: No jobs will be lost in BVIEC & W&SD merger- Works Minister”
Agree that the Pier Park has to be done but please revise the terms of the 'length of the lease". Furthermore, have you taken in account the existing traffic problems, sewerage and water shortage when ships are in port? We now want to bring the two largest ships in the world? Minister for C&W please do not concentrate on 'head tax' alone and there is a bigger picture in the whole scheme of things.
NDP (Investment Club) think they smart! Here's their ratinale, they have contract for water and very interested in energy. Hmmm, let's merge the two to make the investment seemless. Action Man, we watching the behind the scenes antics!
lead to pump the fresh water in - it's all about ingenuity!
Was a due diligence and integrating process study performed that showed that there was synergies in merging the BVIEC, a statutory body and WSD, a department within government? Did the study show the following would result:
a. improving operations through economy of scale
b. eliminating duplicative services
c. reducing and avoiding operational cost
d. gaining use of leading edge technology and equipment
e, sharing and tapping into experienced and proven managerial talent and expertise
f. improving the delivery level of customer service and customer satisfaction
g. improving service reliability and availability
h. positioning electricity, water, and sewage utilities in a stronger short-and long-term position
i. placing utilities in a better position to facilitate growth and development
j, making the utilities more bankable
k. improving efficiency, effectiveness and economy
Additionally, will customers in the end experience lower overall cost and higher quality service? Will all three utilities remain self-supporting or will their revenue streams will be combined? Will WSD combine with BVIEC and become statutory body or the agency will become a department?
Moreover, why BVIEC and WSD and not WSD into PWD, forming PW and Utilities? Why not convert BVIEC into an energy corporation, managing fossil fuel, wind, wave, thermal, solar...etc? What organizational culture will be brought into the new unit? Did stakeholders have input into the proposal or is it a done deal? Are there any other mergers in the offing such as merging sea and airports? what is the cost of the merger? The long-term benefits of this proposed merger should outweigh the cost
put a match to it. sounds like a 'back to nature' plan. half of america operates on this principle - it's
what makes their government go around. works in london too. sounds like the star wars initiative.
Stop urinating on the people and saying it is precipitation.
~~WE ARE CREEPING CLOSER TO DICTATORSHIP~~
Some retire, vacancies are not filled, some are offered severance packages, some are offered early retirement......etc. What is the value of this merger ?