Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Greenhouse & Ports Project Audits to go Public Tuesday!

-Two Reports Authored by the Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster to be made public at the House of Assembly sitting on July 22, 2014
The controversial Ports Development Project and the Greenhouse Project were both audited by the Virgin Islands Auditor General Sonia M. Webster. Both reports will be made public on Tuesday 22, July 2014 at the Eight Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Mr. Clyde Lettsome oversaw the Project of the Greenhouse while in Office. Mr. Lettsome was the Accounting Officer with former Legislator Omar W. Hodge the Minister for the subject. It's unclear if the Auditor General unearthed any irregularities but the public will know on 22, July 2014 when the report is made public. Photo: Internet source
Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Mr. Clyde Lettsome oversaw the Project of the Greenhouse while in Office. Mr. Lettsome was the Accounting Officer with former Legislator Omar W. Hodge the Minister for the subject. It's unclear if the Auditor General unearthed any irregularities but the public will know on 22, July 2014 when the report is made public. Photo: Internet source
Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and current Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude O. Skelton-Cline are at the centre of the Ports Project Controversy. A report about the project authored by the Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster will be made public on 22, July 2014. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and current Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Claude O. Skelton-Cline are at the centre of the Ports Project Controversy. A report about the project authored by the Auditor General Ms. Sonia M. Webster will be made public on 22, July 2014. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - In an attempt to deflect much public attention from the damaging Auditor General Report on the Ports Development Project authored last year by Ms. Sonia M. Webster, the National Democratic Party (NDP) will be laying on the Table on the House of Assembly (HoA) at its Eight Sitting of the Third Session an Audit of the Greenhouse Project.

This news site has obtained a copy of the report from our traditional sources within the ruling NDP, however because it has not been made public we will not publish information from the document.

The Greenhouse Project was carried out under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Administration. The Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer at the time overseeing the Greenhouse Project was Clyde Lettsome and the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour who executed the Project was former legislator Omar W. Hodge.

Another report that will be made public at the July 22, 2014 sitting when it is laid on the Table of the HoA by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith is the Auditor General Report on the Ports Development Project.

The report has been widely circulated on the streets of the Virgin Islands and has 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 found that no one was looking out for the interest of the people and taxpayers of the Virgin Islands, putting the people at a disadvantage.

Motion to debate PAC Report from Hon Fahie

Meanwhile according to the Order Paper obtained by this news site the First District Representative and HoA Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Honourable Andrew A. Fahie will move a motion for the PAC Report to be debated at the Tuesday Sitting of the House of Assembly.

At the last sitting of the House Hon Fahie a former Minister for Education and Culture in a VIP Administration had a motion to debate the PAC report defeated with the majority NDP voting against his motion.

In the PAC’s own report on page 31, 3 they agreed with the findings of the Auditor General’s Report on the Ports Project which were substantiated by the evidence furnished to the Committee during the Committee’s investigation of the project.

FATCA to be made public-No Questions for Pickering

Also to be laid on the Table of the HoA on Tuesday is the controversial FATCA agreement signed between the governments of the Virgin Islands (VI) and the United Sates of America. May critics have accused the NDP Government of selling out the country over this agreement on US tax payments and violating the Constitution of the VI.

The VIP’s two pitbulls party boss Hon. Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Hon Fahie (R1) will also pepper the Government front bench with a series of questions. Yet again the Deputy Premier and Natural Resources and Labour Minister Dr. the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) has escaped the wrath of the opposition members’ questions.

20 Responses to “Greenhouse & Ports Project Audits to go Public Tuesday!”

  • ... (18/07/2014, 15:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    well saw this is thing to talk
    • facts man (19/07/2014, 09:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      before Mr. Mcleary leaves he must instruct the Honourable Attorney General to deliver copies of this report to the Director of Public Prosecutions and Commissioner of Police so that an immediate criminal investigation can be launched
  • school children (18/07/2014, 17:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    but no one will go to jail
    • The watchman (19/07/2014, 05:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      LOL....... standby, the UK watching closely, alot of the other overseas governments have no local government at this time for some of the same ignorance we are doing.
  • really concerned... (18/07/2014, 19:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I cannot believe it......
    • she the cat mother (19/07/2014, 08:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      The DPP and the police up and down harassing the little man and they turn a blind eye to this Ports report…no justice no peace!!
  • ccc (18/07/2014, 20:34) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    How the ndp throwing dem boy lettsome under the bus?
    • The watchman (19/07/2014, 05:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Actually, watch the play, Lettsome has agreed to be a martyr. sacrifice the one..... (and he was there then) to save the many.
  • shaw (18/07/2014, 23:14) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    How interesting that they bring in the green houses to deflect their own improprieties with the cruise ship dock. Tit for tat. It is most immature and irresponsible. where is the responsibility and accountability for the perceived violations? If they didn't do anything then they have nothing to fear. But they are worried.
    • @ shaw (19/07/2014, 09:08) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Green Hosue or Ports let the chips fall where they must, no stone shall remain unturned in this quest for social justice on behalf of the people
      • shaw (19/07/2014, 19:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I think both projects need to be investigated. I'm just saying that it is brought up now to deflect attention away from cruise ship dock so both can point the finger. The fact remains that neither party smells like a rose and have taken liberties with laws. But one case at a time please. I wish it didn't take so long to act on violations and that the attorney general gets more respect than she has been getting.
  • The watchman (19/07/2014, 05:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please realize there is no NDP or VIP when it comes to spending the peoples money, wrong is wrong right is right. all government actions have to be accounted for no matter who they are. PAC is there to protect the peoples dollar.
  • Virgin Son (19/07/2014, 08:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    we must do something in an attempt to recover lost funds.

  • wize up (19/07/2014, 12:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this should be good; the green house project under the VIP and the port project under NDP; both NDP & VIP the same set of muck !!!!!...we really need a solid 3-party but that might never happen
  • wize up (19/07/2014, 18:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    PEP, UP & PPA need to come together and form one solid party for 2015 election; but we have options to VIP/NDP....
  • @ wize up (20/07/2014, 07:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ends justify the means in a your book?
    My advice to you kind Sir. - go think again!
    • wize up (20/07/2014, 12:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      to "@ wize up" I love you 2; you really in love with virgin islands party(they give you good h..d-o..s) just asking !!!!!!

  • JACK BE STILL (22/07/2014, 13:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Citizens need to take responsibility for their deeds but governance plays a role in enforcing proper ethics.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.