BVIHSA Chairman rakes in over $½M in no-bid hospital contracts
This was made public in the response given by the Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton to a question asked by the Member for the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie at the third sitting of the fourth session of the second House of Assembly on February 12, 2015.
Hon Fahie had asked Minister Skelton to state and provide a comprehensive listing of all contracts and purchase orders issued by names, amounts and purpose of all medical equipment, furnishings, security systems, IT systems and electronic equipment, among others, for and on behalf of the BVI Health Services for the benefit of the new Peebles Hospital.
The VIP member had also asked that Hon Skelton indicate which contracts were issued using the Central Tender Process and which were not and, in the cases where the aforementioned tender process were not used, to explain why.
Hon Skelton related that Infinite Solutions collected $ 378,980.85 for the “Supply and installation of servers” for the BVIHSA under the Request for Proposal (RFP) and a further $118,757.90 for the “Supply and installation of TV's” to the BVIHSA.
It was also revealed by Hon Skelton that S&D Security Systems was paid $255,325.00 for the “Supply and installation of access control and CCTV” to the BVIHSA under the RFP/Public Tender Process and a further $98,114.95 for the “Supply and installation of access control and CCTV”.
Is there a conflict of interest?
It is reported that Bishop Cline allegedly has interest in two companies involved in providing Request for Proposal Services (RFP) for the new Hospital. They are Infinite Solutions and S & D Security Systems which combined made eight hundred and fifty one thousand, one hundred and seventy eight dollars and seventy cents ($851,178.70).
Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman Julian Fraser RA (R3) was asked about this matter on his Party’s Radio Show ‘Let’s Talk’ last evening February 18, 2014 on ZBVI but said time had run out and the matter will be dealt with at a later date.
When reached today, February 19, 2015 Bishop Cline confirmed that he indeed has interest in the two named companies but denied any conflict of interest, saying that he had no part in the selection process and that it was transparent.
“For the last 23 years, I have run a legitimate business in the BVI and not at any time has it come into question on conflict of interest whether in Government or anything and I would be foolhardy to start now. The Chairmanship is a volunteer position…it is not a paid position,” he said.
Further to that, we were very deliberate in ensuring transparency and independence. Nothing was awarded to any company that I’m a part of with my hand in it. I was completely removed from the process. We hired an independent accounting firm to oversee the process and allow the chips to fall where they may. They happened to fall in Infinite Solutions and S&D Security Systems favour and that was it,” he said.
“Anybody can go and follow the paper trail and or they could call BDO, a reputable nationwide and worldwide accounting firm from Africa to the BVI and they would find that the process was fair and transparent. So there is nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of,” Bishop Cline said.
63 Responses to “BVIHSA Chairman rakes in over $½M in no-bid hospital contracts”
First Claude on the Ports, now John?!?
Who am I supposed to watch with my popcorn???
This man is one of VI's finest treasury nipple suckers!
twhy is he the chairman of the board he dont know a thing about health but he makes the decisions ..he dont care bout the workers just showing face and collecting behind the scenes bvi is so backward...the increment for the past five years the workers are owed gone to cline p....t
both pot and kettle are black. However a spade is a spade and this dear fellow is a spade
If it can be proven that he coerced or bribed or otherwise influenced BDO to make the decisions, or that the contracts provide no real benefit to the HSA over and above putting money in the Chairman's pockets, then there is at least a case to be proven. Otherwise, there is nothing to see here over and above a regular, everyday, corporate transaction, sensationalised for political mileage or personal gratification.
Hope this was helpful to those confused over what a conflict of interest really means and how it is dealt with in financial transactions. To those who are not interested to understand but only want to personally or politically cast aspersions on John and the NDP, no clarificationwould be satisfactory to you.
@ Legal even though you put that out there and thank you for doing it. This name John I Cline will always be surrounded by controversy. But he had a praying mother and father and is in connection with the most high God, and when you mess with the man of God, wrath shall be descended upon you. He has worked for what he has and everytime someone gets in trouble who do they run to, to ask for money. I know some of you all sorry a..s who on here blogging are some of them. Karma is a bitch.
He was never any angel. This self proclaimed bishop's true colours are now shining through for all to see. Thanks goes to Mr. Fraser for exposing this seemingly gross and unrepentant m....asance. Enquiring minds are only left to ask what else lurks under various other stones yet to be overturned.