Works Minister refuses to produce docs on equipment purchase
It was during the question and answer segment of the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly on March 20, 2015.
“Madam Speaker, given that the government recently purchased road paving equipment costing just under one million dollars, would the Minister for Communication and Works please inform this Honourable House who decided that the equipment be purchased through a Request for Proposal (RFP) rather than through the Central Tender process given that the government signed the Protocols for Effective Financial Management since April 23rd, 2012, which clearly outlines how matters of this nature will now be handled?,” asked Honourable Fahie.
In response, Honourable Vanterpool said Public Tender Notice No. 5 of 2012 for the supply of an asphalt batch plant for the Public Works Department was published on Monday December 17, 2012 and that six bids were received on January 29, 2013. Five of these bids, the Minister continued, were considered responsive and ranging in price from Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($965,000) to Two Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,350,000).
The Minister further said the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands, in consideration of the sums proposed, made a decision not to proceed with this process and tenderers were advised on May 29, 2013.
“Madam Speaker, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands subsequently decided to purchase the road paving equipment, in accordance with the Virgin Islands Public Finance Management Regulations, 2005 Part 27 Procurement of Stores and Services Section 170 subsection 2,” he said.
Did Cabinet waive tender process?
Honourable Fahie then asked whether Cabinet had waived the tender process and if yes, when. He also asked that the Honourable House be furnished with a copy of the extract.
To this request the Minister replied, “Madam Speaker, by way of Cabinet Memorandum 057/2014, dated 14th February 2014, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands waived the tender process for the purchase of heavy equipment for the Public Works Department. Madam Speaker, in keeping in line with the Cabinet Handbook, First Edition, published in November 2009, Section 7.20, ‘it is not acceptable to copy and distribute Cabinet documents’, as such, I am unable to furnish a copy of the extract as requested.”
Honourable Fahie then asked who decided the content and the specifications that would form the Request for Proposal. To this the Minister responded that the Director of the Public Works Department (Jeffrey M. Skelton) and his team decided on the content and specifications and following which there was Cabinet approval.
Asked by Honourable Fahie what process was used to select the companies that RFPs were given, the Minister said the Public Works Department, through their Procurement Unit, sourced quotations for the proposed equipment from various suppliers; locally, regionally and internationally, who they have had previous business transactions with.
“Quotes were also sought from companies who had supplied the Department of Waste Management with heavy equipment in the recent years. Madam Speaker, this alternative was used to try and obtain the most competitive prices available,” Honourable Vanterpool said.
The Opposition has continually accused the National Democratic Party administration of repeatedly using the national treasury as their personal piggy banks and have refused to adhere to the principles of good governance.
23 Responses to “Works Minister refuses to produce docs on equipment purchase”
VIP did a lot of--- s--%--I--t--- when they were in power.--Not in my wildest dream I would ever though that NDP would walk that same road---I am so disappointed.--Its simple--answer the questions hand over the documents.
Lol,lol,lmao, Ah love that. That call was to find out if the equipment were on their way or when will he get his portion of the ***$$***