Who will be the fall-guy over the Ports Project scandal?
Claude O. Skelton-Cline’s contract
The Managing Director (MD) of the BVI Ports Authority Claude Skelton-Cline whose contract as MD expired early December, 2015 made an attempt to get his contract renewed before the early general election in June 2015.
In the first quarter of 2015 a renewed package was sent to the Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) to secure a decision before the June 2015 general elections.
When the Minister moved the contract to Cabinet the paper was deferred as many Cabinet Ministers had issues with the new salary being proposed of over two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) per year, according to our newsroom’s Cabinet sources.
After much debate and back and forth there was a compromised figure of around a little over $180,000.00 per year.
As time was fast moving and the Ports Development Project scandal was heating up following two damaging reports; one from the former Government Auditor General Sonia M. Webster and the other from the powerful House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee Chaired by former Opposition Leader Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, many elected officials and advisors asked Mr. Skelton-Cline to wait until after the June 2015 snap elections to have his contract renewed.
The elections took place and the National Democratic Party (NDP) was returned to power. However, following the elections Managing Director Skelton-Cline made some internal staff movements which allegedly upset some who were reassigned.
It is reported that one of the affected staff penned a letter to the United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE, expressing some concerns on a number of issues. It is also reported by a senior NDP member that the former Chairman of the BVI Ports Authority Board J. Edward De Castro allegedly also wrote to Governor Duncan. Our newsroom has not obtained a copy of that letter and so we cannot independently verify this as a fact, as our newsroom would usually have access to such a letter.
As of today no decision has been made on the renewal of Skelton-Cline’s contract, as there have been lots of pressure being brought to bear on those for and against the contract renewal. Many have claimed that it’s the Governor who is objecting to the contract, while others have told our newsroom it is in the hands of Premier and Leader of Government Business Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith.
Mark Vanterpool & the Ports Project
The Auditor General Report and that of the Public Accounts Committee both pointed to the role of Minister for Communications and Works Vanterpool on the project.
The Board Chairman appointed by Minister Vanterpool and the Cabinet made clear he had no interest in a Chairmanship renewal after his three year tenure ended in September 2015.
Both reports alleged that Minister Vanterpool improperly usurped the BVI Ports Authority decision-marking authority in planning the project and spent too much on consultants.
Minister Vanterpool has dismissed the two reports in a two hour plus long loud rant in the House of Assembly earlier this year and said the reports were political motivated, and insisted he did nothing wrong.
Hugh E. Darley said there was corruption
The chorus of the calls for an investigation into the Ports Development Project and confirmation of what was said in the two reports have come to light again. This time a former insider considered the architect of the project a Hugh E. Darley, President of I D E A, Inc., has verified many of what the reports have claimed.
In the Virgin Islands for two days this week Mr. Darley spoke to many of the local media including our newsroom.
He confirmed in his interview that the people of the Virgin Islands did not get value for money on the Ports Development Project. He claimed that the NDP government through the BVI Ports Authority utilized cheap building material and cut back on the number of buildings at the Tortola Pier Park Project.
Mr. Darley told our newsroom that the ports development project was to be built for $45 million but estimate the project is approaching well over $75 million USD.
Mr. Darley also made serious allegations that some $10 Million dollars was overpaid to contractors and others on the marine work portion of the project.
He confirmed what both the Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor General said that Hon Mark H. Vantperpool (R4) was pulling the strings on the project. When pressed by our newsroom on this Mr. Darley said he is willing to provide the evidence to the UK or anyone to back up his claims.
The former ports project coordinator called on the powers that be to conduct an investigation into the project something Governor Duncan has refused to do. When told that the local appointed Governor refused to investigate the project despite two reports claiming corruption Mr. Darley said he had already approached the United Kingdom to investigate this project since “your governor seems to have no interest in doing so”.
The fall guy
The internal debate on the project now is who will be the fall guy as persons close to former MD Skelton-Cline told our news room he has refused to be the fall guy. There are also quiet whispers about the future of Hon. Vanterpool in terms of his options, as a Government Minister.
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60 Responses to “Who will be the fall-guy over the Ports Project scandal? ”
NDP weak weak let the damn dog bark and get Hugh Darley the hell out of here
It is time for the minister to take full responsibility for what the project manager and the managing director did at the port. Thanks to Mr Darley for letting the mouse out of the bag. BVI people we need you to be like Mr. Darley and expose corruptions so that the people will benifit more and not a few. They have been stealing throughout the year, it is time for the government and the people enjoy the riches of the country we call home.
look like the gov**** getting a big cut The ten million over spend gone in the N D P man them hand thanks to MR Darley for ratting them out. The N D P put their thief them in high Places watch out
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 -1778)
This project should not have taken the turn that it did, for this is the second bite of the apple. If we remember, the first rollout was a disaster. But it look as if the second bite is no better. The Premier should have had a laser focus on this project. In fact, he should have taken personal command and control of this vital project. He is too trusting. Politics is a coarse and gritty business. The project is in progress so it must be salvaged. It must be rescued from itself before it collapse under its own weight. To bring credibility and transparency back to the project, the Premier, family loyalty aside, cannot wait for the new year to act. He has to act know. Demonstrating strong leadership, he needs to arrest the fierce urgency of know by relieving key players on this project of their responsibilities until the dust settles and all the questions have been satisfactorily answered. Relief does not mean anyone has done anything wrong. Nonetheless,there are swirling dark clouds of alleged wrong doing.
Acting decisively is a tough call for the Premier, for the familial consequences of needed action. But he should not have been in this position. Leadership is tough and decision makers must be realistic , tough minded, steady, confident, results oriented yet compassionate. As such the Premier, despite refusal in the past, should exercise strong situational decision making and ask the Governor to commission a Commission of Inquiry(COI). And absent a request from the Premier, the Governor needs to commission a COI. Need to clear the dark, gathering and swirling clouds over this project. A COI can either unearthed wrong doings, if any, or clear people of the raging allegations.
That guy that run from D88888 in the first place for similar stuff come right here and do the same thing in our face, that's why I don't go church because I can't sit down and listen to these c*****s in suites