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Works Minister refuses to produce docs on equipment purchase

-cites Cabinet handbook which disallows the copying & sharing of Cabinet documents
Some of the road works equipment that was the subject of questions by Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) directed to Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4). Photo: Public Works Department
Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) has declined to furnish Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) with documentation on the road paving equipment that Government recently purchased from a Chinese company, citing the Cabinet Handbook disallowing the copying and distributing of Cabinet documents. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) has declined to furnish Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) with documentation on the road paving equipment that Government recently purchased from a Chinese company, citing the Cabinet Handbook disallowing the copying and distributing of Cabinet documents. Photo: VINO/File
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. Photo: VINO/File
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. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) declined to furnish Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) with documentation on the road paving equipment Government recently purchased from a Chinese company, citing the Cabinet handbook disallowing the copying and distributing of Cabinet documents.

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”

  • ..................... (02/04/2015, 15:52) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I smell a rat!
  • Lord-oh (02/04/2015, 16:15) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    where is this Governor--Is he working for free? I hope so...because he is not doing anything...I am a lover of NDP..I am so fed-up with their behavior and their dodge and hoop and hide games--especially when it comes to the people`s money
  • Outspoken (02/04/2015, 16:16) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Imagin that. This is a matter of national concern and the Ministers only concern is that in keeping in line with Caninet Handbook, first edition published in November 2009, section 7.20, it is not acceptable to copy and distribute Cabinet Documents. Oh come on what is there to hide. Will the distribution of this particular document posed a threat to national security. I find of late this man comes up will all kinds of excuses when asked to supply/produced certain documents. The question is, does he have things to hide? These are issues that need to be known by the public
  • kk (02/04/2015, 16:22) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply

    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.

  • concern (02/04/2015, 16:51) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    The sunshine government gone in dark night.
  • ooooo (02/04/2015, 17:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    go back to the cartoons and see who made the calls to china...LOL
    • ImanI (02/04/2015, 17:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      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 ***$$***

  • vip (02/04/2015, 17:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is this where the unaccounted funds went?
  • ndp (02/04/2015, 23:06) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Natural Ducking Party...abrev. NDP
  • big bird (03/04/2015, 00:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP ticket sucks i heard the at large was going to be myron, Pope, Joe Jack and the lady with the bad words hahahahaha
  • shaw (03/04/2015, 00:17) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I find it unbelievable that a member of legislature cannot get a copy of an invoice or documentation on where taxpayer money went. This is legislature! What do they think opposition is going to do with it other than get their questions answered? that is so childish. And it is a very literal interpretation of the bill. It was probably meant so no one outside of legislature gets un-certified papers illegally.
  • virginislander (03/04/2015, 07:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the great secret? Is one of the ministers doing business with China? A commission of inquiry is needed to see if there is conflict of interest with members of the NDP government. They are spending tax payers money. Is it getting in the wrong pockets? It is strange a particular minister continues to refuse to disclose how he is using the people's money. Why is the Primer,s voice in this?
  • Baloon payment (03/04/2015, 07:26) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Here we go again, another road sweeper machine saga. Equipment bought through dubious third party companies in the USA with links to persons here, at inflated prices. No value for the BVI, just $$$$ lining people's pockets.
  • china man (03/04/2015, 08:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder how they made it into the island?
  • 111 (03/04/2015, 09:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Millions and Millions but, the people can't afford food.

  • happy home (03/04/2015, 09:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    the worst part of the deal is all of the equipment is used and spray over with new paint job.
  • Public record (03/04/2015, 10:46) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    How are invoices part of cabinet documents? If they are, then arguably every piece of paper is a cabinet document, and nothing is public.
  • ooooo (03/04/2015, 13:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the chinese asphalt plant is very slow and the machine to remove the asphalt constantly breaks down all the time...it is down again as we speak
  • Concern 1 (03/04/2015, 14:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Perhaps it was his personal money was used to purchase the equipment so he is holding on to the documents, unlike some who go into offices at 4am and remove govt documents then boost about it.
  • in my pocket (04/04/2015, 11:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Without competition the only thing left between the public and monopoly pricing and tactics people using there access to help themselves and our history offers many examples of that
  • in my pocket (04/04/2015, 11:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Without competition the only thing left between the public and monopoly pricing and tactics people using there access to help themselves and our history offers many examples of that


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