Commission of Inquiry called for after port audit revelations
The audit was reportedly conducted by the Audit Department and also assessed the period November 2011 to July 2012. Government’s negotiations with TPP ended in September 2013.
Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru made the call on the Open Mic radio programme aired last evening, October 30, 2013 on ZRod FM.
“Just from what we have seen so far, I think now we have enough to say, ‘Governor, the situation as it stands seems to lack some integrity,’ and we need to restore integrity to the process so we need a commission of inquiry and I’m calling for that,” Wheatley said.
He noted that with all the stops that have come with the project, his belief is that these were opportunities for ‘us to get this thing right’.
Commentators bemoaned the idea that TPP was originally set to have a 49-year lease as part of the agreement, according to the audit report. “Forty-nine years man, forty-nine years of lack of opportunity for youngsters,” said host Julio S. Henry.
Henry said he would love to see locals with money being allowed to invest in the project but stressed that their involvement cannot be behind closed doors.
“Here it is now, that we have a few who are now hoping to benefit and the massive is outside waiting for a job. When they can’t provide jobs we’re in trouble,” he stated,
The host also expressed some level of vindication for his strident claims made in the past about the process surrounding to the project, “For a year and a half, from the minute I heard about Tortola Port partners, I called it a bluff. I said there was something wrong with the process.”
Henry has repeatedly questioned the absence of main players from the negotiation process such as tour operators and others involved in the cruise tourism industry for decades.
He felt the economy was still at a standstill even though there were signs of improvement along the way, adding that it was important for everyone to understand that all are involved together, either directly or indirectly, whether there is agreement on this or not.
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31 Responses to “Commission of Inquiry called for after port audit revelations ”
- Commission of Inquiry into the $100K spent on drag study
- Commission of Inquiry into the $500K spent on Medical School Study
- Commission of Inquiry into the over $800K spent on the program between Education Ministry and Claude
- Commission of Inquiry into the Greenhouse development on Tortola and VG
- Commission of Inquiry into the Sea Cows Bay marina/land fill
- Commission of Inquiry into the Biwater dealings
- Commission of Inquiry into the Cruise Pier
- Commission of Inquiry into the Airport
Let us put all the cards on the table. I bet most of you will hush if the Government came out and made such a statement. POLITICS is killing us. Wrong is wrong no matter who so if we calling for inquiry let's call for all that got us up to this point. Who man enough? ----crickets-----
The one most unforgivable act that has damaged this country financially is the NDP's Santo eternity corrupt hospital construction project which sucked & is sucking the Treasury dry but ayo want us to leave that alone & forget it while you try to blame others for the nonsense Ronnie & the NDP has done. Millions & millions & millions & more gone through the hospital door thanks to the can't do no wrong NDP.
The NDP is the political party of choice & majority but it is obvious to most of us now that they got the office through lies and malicious behavior and now it is coming back to haunt them which I don't mind but we the people suffering also which is where I have a problem. THE NDP MUST GO NOW!
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and lock up these corrupt politicians? Any where else, they will all be in jail.
[Conflict of interest]
Section 81D (1) of that said Act/Law defines and criminalised "Conflict of interest"
Section 81D(1) states...
""Where,
(a) A public body in which a public official is a member,director,manager or other senior officer prosposes to deal with a company,partnership or other undertaking in which that public official or a relative or associate of him has a direct or indirect private interest,and
(b) That public official or his relative or associate of him holds more than ten percent of the total equity participation in such company,partnership or other undertaking,
That public official shall forthwith disclose,in writing,to that public body the nature of such interst.
Subsection (3) states-
"" A public official who knowingly contrvenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and is liable-
(a) On summary conviction,to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars,or both"".. And if tried on indictment,the penalties will increase..
The legal team does not have a comment on this topic:I will read the law and blogg on the law...
But I trust that a news website like VINO,will exercise its freedom of the press,pursuant to the provisions of section 23 of the V.I Constitution,which defines freedom of speech,and VINO being a democratic news site will publish my blogg of my research on the law relating to ""Conflict of interest""