Young contractor alleges victimisation by NDP
Ricky E. Connor of RC Construction said he received many calls from persons after Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, responding to questions from Representative for the Third District Hon Julian Fraser RA during the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly on March 12, 2015 revealed that a new contractor was hired for the project since there were “issues” with the original contractor.
New contractor hired
Hon Fraser had asked Hon Vanterpool who is the contractor for the building of a retaining wall at Byron’s residence in the Manuel Reef section of Sea Cows Bay. “Madam Speaker, Mr Leslie Smith has been contracted to construct the retaining wall in the vicinity of Byron’s residence in Manuel Reef section of Sea Cows Bay…,” Hon Vanterpool responded.
The Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, Hon Fraser, then asked if the original contract was terminated. “Madam Speaker, I do not know the full details of the original contract but I know that the original contractor had issues in getting the project started,” the Works Minister said.
Hon Vanterpool further said the project was considered to be or could incur heavy danger to the nearby house and that the Public Works Department (PWD) tried for the last two or three years to get the original contractor moving on the project but “that was not possible”.
“There were several discussions I know and a new contract was issued to get the works done before the next heavy rains is expected this coming year, so that is what I know Madam Speaker,” Hon Vanterpool stated.
Asked by Hon Fraser for a copy of the contract, Minister Vanterpool produced it to the Hon Member.
Original contract never terminated
But in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Connor related that he was issued a contract on November 3, 2011 for the building of a retaining wall at Byron’s residence but was one of the first to be called after NDP got into power following general elections. “They told me not to do anything with the contract and that they would inform me of any other details in the future. I said what you mean? They said don’t start it, don’t touch it.”
The young man said two years passed and he didn’t hear anything, however, he went to the Works Ministry to find out about monies owed to him for another contract, a sewerage project, and he used the opportunity to enquire about the contract.
Connor said he was asked if he was in a position to start the project but seeing that he was owed for so long for another contract, he asked for a mobilisation fee, which is 10% of the value of the contract to get the contract started. This he said is stipulated in the contract but was told officials were going to write back to him on it, however, another year passed and neither did he hear anything about it nor the money owed to him.
The contractor said he had worked on a sewerage project in Road Town and was still owed monies for work done. “Over ten thousand dollars and they said they have to do a variation with Finance and the Premier so that I could get paid. That was from last year.”
He said he also asked then about the Manuel Hill contract and was told Government was in no position to give a ten percent mobilisation fee but if he wished to go ahead with the contract he could. “I needed to get some sort of satisfaction so that I could get paid in a timely manner because they have a lot of money outstanding for me.”
Still waiting on a call
In November of last year Mr Connor said he reviewed the Bill of Quantity for the Manuel Hill project and on checking the site recommended a hammer and another piece of equipment. He was also promised the money for the sewerage project contract done.
“Mr Vanterpool called Mr (Anthony S.) Mcmaster and Mr Gary Penn at the time, me and some of my collegues were there, they brought up the question of Manuel Hill project and I said the variation needs to be in writing before I can go ahead and start. That is all I want. We need to have a variation of a machine with a hammer, a regular machine and two ten yards, also that contract needs to be revised since it is nearly four years now.
“The last word I heard from them is that they will get engineers from Public Works Department to go and check the site and get back to me. That was November last year. I now see somebody else working on the contract. I didn’t get any call, nothing. And the same things I told them was needed, the machine with the hammer and so on, they took my idea and gave it to somebody else.”
Mr Connor said he already had himself mobilised and had invested in some amount of materials. Added to that he said he had hired two heavy equipment operators who already had their machines on site. "I had machines on that site for over two weeks waiting to start but was told not to. I had called Public Works Department and told them I am about to start and they stop me. This was in 2012.
“Up to this day I still waiting on a call.”
The contractor said he feels he is a victim of politics and victimisation by the NDP. “I have to go to a lawyer right now because that contract still effective. I didn’t get any termination or anything.
“Is it a concidence that the person who now has the contract is the father of the guy that ran against Hon Fraser in the Third [District]?” Connor questioned.
62 Responses to “Young contractor alleges victimisation by NDP”
What qualifications does he have to build a retaining wall. There is a reason the damn thing fall in the first place. Having a trade license doesn't make you a contractor.
LOLOLOLOL.... YESSS my sentiments exactly !!!!!!
election.How long was this in the pipeline.we need to insist that no new contracts should be signed
after the dissolution of council unless the case of emergency such as floods or earthquakes.
You are the one that needs to read and stop blogging off your emotions. Here in the BVI we need to deal with facts and not about party affiliations.
You still the dumb a.. didn't he say he was waiting for them to authorize the varations with the extra equipment? Or you miss thay part too?
The issue remains that the man needs to get paid and that it was unethical of government to give away contract without terminating. If they had fears about the ability of the man to get the job done then they needed to say so. Just leaving the man hanging is unprofessional and unacceptable. Forget the politics for a moment and think about that.
Crabbe got paid for work already completed,POPS was also paid for work already completed
although signed by Tilford and by the way Pops was executing work before the vip lost and
way before elections.
@ true tolian. So the truth of the matter is, O J's father gets the job and O J is once against running with the NDP. Set of cr**ks.
VIP MUST BOW!!!
That's the height of nonsense regardless of he can get the job done or not you give the contract to him first he sign it dah means he cld do or he has the resources to get the job done but having him waiting on dem to start but look around deh have someone else on.the job without any notification is dead £%^^& wrong so ayo PAY DEH MAN
He is getting all the government work in the 3rd.
If yes.....God help us all!
WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND
Good man; God knows best
True, you are one out of a million. Everyone else missed it.
NDP to the rescue my son. Don't worry. Next time put your X in the right box.
Going my @$$!!!
What goes around comes around...
NDP awards certified Contractors that gets the job done WELL .... and not to a family friend because he got a Trade License etc etc.... Come on people....Are you for the Country or your Pockets ?????
Construction contractors are not usually paid up front. They are typically paid Progress payments for work put in place plus evidence for material purchased.