UPDATE: Hon Fahie renews call for DFS Gaskin to be disciplined
He was speaking on Tuesday July 22, 2014 during the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly.
“This is not no personal vendetta…there were documents received contradicting the evidence that was given and received out of his very own Ministry. Let’s not forget the fact that the Deputy Financial Secretary had multiple roles…in this project. He was now a new person as a liaison officer on the Ports Board. He was the Chairman of the Tender Board for the Port Development procurement process and he was also over the procurement section…multiple roles,” said Hon Fahie.
He said that the Auditor General in her report and the PAC both raised concerns about the conduct of the Deputy Financial Secretary.
He pointed out that the DFS took it upon himself to take a turn into the Auditor General. “Had any other public servant done this it would have been a problem,” he said.
Hon Fahie went on to describe how the DFS poured scorn on the Auditor General Sonia M. Webster, saying that he begged to differ after another member of the committee described Webster in a positive light.
“Now I quote, ‘he indicated that the office is a constitutional position and that the holder of the office has no qualifications for the position except a bachelor’s degree.’ Madam Speaker, first of all that is not accurate and second of all I thought that was flat out rude,” said Hon Fahie.
“The Deputy Financial Secretary continued his statement by saying that he thought the office was incompetent and was not in a position to conduct audits,” he said.
“Even when there were concerns of the actions of the DFS during the tender process, even if you want to say I am being negative, then you are saying that the Auditor General who he insulted, that doesn’t count for something and that some kind of action [should not be taken]?” Hon Fahie asked.
See previous story published on June 16, 2014:
Wendell M. Gaskin, DFS accused of lying to PAC
The Public Accounts Committee calls for the Deputy Financial Secretary to be disciplined in the form of suspension after accusing him of knowingly providing false information to them!
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - At the Seventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly (HoA) the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE laid the much anticipated final report on the Cruise Pier Development Project on the table.
The document is now public, however days before it became public it was leaked to selective members of the media however, this news site obtained an advance copy from its sources within the ruling National Democratic Party.
A motion failed in the HoA on June 13, 2014 brought by Opposition and PAC member Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) for a debate on the damaging report.
Did the Deputy Financial Secretary give false information to the Committee?
In one of the alarming findings in the Report’s conclusion, it stated on page 29, 118 that the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr. Wendell M. Gaskin, deliberately and knowingly furnished false information to the Public Accounts Committee regarding the BVI Investment Club’s proposed association with the Tortola Port Partners (TPP) with the intention to mislead and corrupt the PAC process and its outcome. This brings into question the integrity of his testimony before this Body the report stated.
According to the Report one of the requirements of the tender request issued by the Ministry of Finance in August 2012 was for the prospective contractors to include a provision for local ownership of up to 20%.
The tender assessment report prepared by PricewatehouseCoopers (PWC) dated November 25, 2012 provided to the committee by the Ministry of Finance specifically named the BVI Investment Club as the prospective local partner for TPP.
The Deputy Financial Secretary (DFS) Mr. Gaskin as Chairman of the Tender Board, would have had access to the PWC report the PAC argued, which clearly stated the proposed relationship between TPP and the BVI Investment Club.
Mr. Gaskin very disrespectful to PAC
In a deliberate move the PAC puts on record on page 30, 120 its admonition of the Deputy Financial Secretary who appeared before the Committee on January 15, 2014 to testify about the Cruise Pier Development Project.
The PAC Report stated that Mr. Wendell M. Gaskin the Virgin Islands’ Deputy Financial Secretary in his testimony defiled the Constitutional process of the Committee and the Office of the Auditor General with “remarks which were neither provoked nor relevant to the matter which he was summoned.”
The report stated that Mr. Gaskin exhibited a demeanor which was lacking in decorum and respect and which was both unbecoming for a senior public servant and a poor reflection of the office he represents.
Furthermore, the PAC underscores the gravity of this affront and considers that the public officer Mr. Gaskin, who serves at the privilege of Her Majesty the Queen, should be subjected to disciplinary action. “No public officer is above the Constitution and none should be permitted to think otherwise” the report stated in strong language.
Discipline Mr. Gaskin for lying-PAC
After accusing the DFS of providing the Public Accounts Committee with false information when they said in fact he knew that the BVI Investment Club was named in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report provided by the Tender Committee of which he chaired, the PAC wants him disciplined.
The PAC recommended that the Governor or Deputy Governor’s office take steps to institute disciplinary action against Mr. Gaskin. They called for the Deputy Financial Secretary’s suspension or other suitable actions.
When contacted by this news site on June 15, 2014 about the allegation in the PAC Report the DFS Mr. Gaskin told this news site in a text message to “go f..k yourself.”
Conflict of interest with BVI Investment Club
Another serious discovery is that the PAC stated that it shares the concerns in the Auditor General’s report dated January 31, 2013 regarding the potential for conflict of the interest presented by the involvement of BVI Investment Club.
The PAC report further stated that, “Members of the House of Assembly or their close family members are listed as investors in the BVI Investment Club and stand to benefit from this multimillion dollar public project,” and full and public disclosure should be made of these interests so that the process is not corrupted.
Two reports saying the same things about corruption over the Ports Project
In the PAC’s own report on page 31, 3 they agreed with the findings of the Auditor General’s Report which were substantiated by the evidence furnished to the Committee during the Committee’s investigation of the project.
The Auditor General's Report on the Ports Development Project unearthed corruption, conflict of interest, disregard for the laws of the Virgin Islands, unfair practices, undue influence in favour of one developer, disregard for the established tendering process and that no one was looking out for the interest of the people and taxpayers of the Virgin Islands, putting the people at a disadvantage.
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54 Responses to “UPDATE: Hon Fahie renews call for DFS Gaskin to be disciplined”
The wh..emongers who running rampant in here in this Territory are the most disrepectful human beings ever born!!!!!
And they are only afraid because they ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE AFRAID OF HIM!!!!
HE DONT HAVE TWO HEAD AND I HAVE ONE!!!!
Clearly, more investigation is required by persons who do not have any political interests in the territory. We need to have the air cleared and either exonerate those in power or condemn them forthwith. We cannot continue along these lines with serious accusations hovering over our government.
While I am concerned about impropriety at all levels, Mr. Gaskin is small potatoes. To everything (and everyone), there is a season. If the allegations against him are true, he will have much to answer for.
I am far more concerned about the goings on within government ministries. If there is in fact corruption at the highest levels of elected office, THAT needs to be brought to light and action needs to be initiated immediately. We cannot move forward unless the people can be assured that those holding the purse strings, deserve our trust.
L..K THEM ALL UP. Get rid of the C....ption Scourge.