VIP/Opposition member districts got shafted under NDP- Report
However, according to the 2012 Public Works Department Report laid on the table of the House of Assembly, on November 19, 2013 by Communications and Works Minister Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool, little or nothing was done in terms of petty contracts in districts represented by Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition members.
The report clearly demonstrates a dramatic drop in spending in 2012 under the current NDP Administration within the First District represented by Hon. Andrew A. Fahie, Second District represented by Hon. J. Alvin Christopher, Third District represented by Hon. Julian Fraser RA, and the Ninth District represented by Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.
According to the statistics in the report, only 6 petty contracts were issued for the whole of 2012 in the VIP represented First District, whereas 35 petty contracts were issued in the Fourth District represented by the NDP Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool.
Another example, according to the report, was a mere 11 petty contracts were issued in the VIP represented Third District in 2012 whereas 24 petty contracts were issued in the Eight District represented by NDP Legislator Hon. Marlon A. Penn.
The claim by the NDP that no district will be left behind seems to be another political gimmick as the facts, according to the report, does not support the promise.
In 2012 only 12 petty contracts were issued in the Ninth District [Virgin Gorda/Anegada] represented by Opposition Leader and VIP member Hon. O’Neal. However, in the NDP represented Fifth District, 33 petty contracts were issued.
Below: Petty Contracts executed per District. Photo: VINO/PWD 2012 Report, Page 19
The PWD 2012 report reveled that as a matter of percentage of petty contracts issued, the 4 VIP districts took the smallest percentage. The First District, for example, had a mere 3%, Second District 10% and Third District received just 6%.
However, the NDP Districts with representatives on the government side took most if not all of the pie. The Fourth District took some 20%, with the Fifth District taking 19%, according to petty contracts issued in 2012.
Below: Percentage of Petty Contacts per District as illustrated on a pie chart. Photo: VINO/PWD 2012 Report, Page 20
We not even allowed to give out the few-Opposition
A source within the Opposition Virgin Islands Party told this news site that the 4 Opposition Members continue to be disrespected and not consulted when work is going on in their Districts [1, 2, 3, 9], something that was never the case under the previous ruling VIP Government.
When asked on November 19, 2013 in the House of Assembly by Opposition Member Hon. Julian Fraser if District Representatives were involved in determining the area in each districts to be cleaned and the persons to carry out the work, Minister Vanterpool claimed he could not remember if District Representatives were consulted and in which districts.
Non-elected person giving out contracts in my District- Hon. J Alvin Christopher
Lashing out at the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration for what he described as a lack of respect for him as the representative of the Second District, veteran politician with well over 18 years in Parliament Honourable J. Alvin Christopher gave a stern warning to the Dr. Smith Administration as to how he is being treated by Ministers of the NDP Government.
Hon. Christopher was at the time speaking at the October 14, 2013 sitting of Parliament.
The former Government Minister said he was told by the Ministry of Communications and Works, but he knows that the Ministry is headed up by a Minister, “that a directive came that they are not supposed to take any instructions from me [Hon. Christopher] and someone was assigned to say who and how these works are to be carried out in my district…I was under the impression that I was the District Representative..I asked for the name and was told that Claude Skelton-Cline was the name given…” according to Hon. Christopher.
“Madam Speaker, I was appalled by this revelation as when I was a Minister of Government I respected all District Representatives and all works went through the District Representatives out of courtesy and respect,” Hon. Christopher stated.
He said under the 20-month old NDP government it seems like they are “practicing the rules of the jungle, where it’s the survival of the fittest”. Hon. J. Alvin Christopher said he spoke before [in the HOA] the Minister for Communications and Works so he can have an opportunity to clarify his position, however the Minister did not address the issue.
Hon. Christopher warned that, if all the rules and respect for each other have been done away with, then he can also play by the rules of the jungle. “If what is happening for the last two years under this government is going to be the norm then we will be in serious trouble…I have always cooperated with the government and given them the respect..Tell me today, if we are applying the rules of the jungle?” the usually calm District Representative asked.
Over the past 2 years, many members of Parliament and the public have bitterly complained about the culture of disrespect that has taken over the Virgin Islands under the NDP-led Administration. Allegations include incidences of At-Large Ministers of government recklessly going into districts and giving non-elected persons, usually losers of the 2011 election, contracts to give out and bypassing the duly elected representatives.
While the PWD 2012 Report did not name who gave out the few contracts in the VIP Opposition Members’ 4 Districts, it tells the story of VIP represented Districts being left way behind in work distributions under the NDP Government, something they promised the people not to do!
47 Responses to “VIP/Opposition member districts got shafted under NDP- Report”
- Overall there is less money spent in 2012 ($6.6m) than in 2011 ($8.3m).
- In 2011, there are some ridiculous differences - over $2.2m in the 3rd and $1.6m in the 2nd but only $124k in the 7th.
- because of these ridiculous differences under 1 administration, that is why you have seen such a dramatic fall in spending under another.
- In 2011, the Minister (C&W) spent $600k more in his district than the next highest whereas in 2012, the Minister's district received the 3rd highest spending.
I could go on, but the spending is more balanced in 2012 than it is in 2011.
I am neither NDP or VIP, but fair is fair.
If anything, we (the voters) got shafted in 2011, not 2012, especially those outside of the 3rd and 2nd districts. As I look at the 2012 numbers vs 2011, the spending is more balanced. The focus of this article should be on the 2011 numbers and the shafting we got then.
Again, I am neither VIP or NDP, but fair is fair.
Stop showing HALF TRUTH!
The show will be on the other foot soon so let them go ahead treating some parts of the country like $h!t because they voted for VIP