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Hon. Vanterpool made promises but hasn’t delivered - Opp Leader
It was during the 2014 House of Assembly (HOA) Standing Finance Committee (SFC) on the Budget Deliberation that Leader of the Opposition and Ninth District Representative Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, also went on record about things happening in his district without his consent.
At the time the Public Works Department (PWD) was before the SFC represented by its Director Mr. Jeffrey M. Skelton.
Hon. O’Neal told the HOA select committee that “bush-cutting works were given out in the Ninth District without his consent” and asked for clarity on the matter.
In response the Minister for Communications and Works seemed to admit to this by justifying this type of disregard for protocol and tradition by saying “other representatives participated in the exercise”. In other words At-Large members can give out bush-cutting contracts without regard to the District Representatives.
Following the 2011 elections and for the first time in the Virgin Islands’ political history At-Large representatives (many accused the controversial Education and Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn of being the biggest violator) have gone into all nine Districts and given out works with little or no regard for the District Representatives.
Two well-placed sources inside the NDP Government told us, “they even tried this on many occasions in NDP-member Districts but they were told to stop it and consult and it had caused some tensions in Caucus and now they consult in NDP Districts. At least now they share the work between NDP held districts and the At-Large Member…but it’s not the same for VIP held districts.”
All four Opposition members are now on record on this matter with Honourable J. Alvin Christopher (R2) telling the HOA last year that he was told the person to issue contracts in his District was Claude Skelton-Cline who is unelected.
Promises not delivered on VG road
Ninth District Representative Hon. O’Neal also made a passionate plea to the PWD and Minister for Communications and Works over a Road in Virgin Gorda.
He said, “I would like to bring to attention the great need to widen a part of the Lee Road by the Catholic Centre in the Valley, due to the traffic increasing every day and there were quite a few narrow escapes…the time will come that something serious would happen there if the matter was not rectified.”
Hon. O’Neal with some 38 plus years in Parliament blasted the Communications and Works Minister Vanterpool saying in the SFC meeting “promises were made by the Minister but not delivered”.
PWD boss Mr. Skelton then promised to forward the road widening exercise to the Ministry of Communications and Works. When asked by Opposition Leader O’Neal for an expected time and date of completion Mr. Skelton response was “shortly”.
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15 Responses to “Hon. Vanterpool made promises but hasn’t delivered - Opp Leader”
is such a joke, as if he just discover. These things been there to be done how many centuries
now? Mark has a right to dont study him. He was in Government he didnt do one thin beside waste
money on his buddies.
Then again he is in between naps, so you need to excuse him and respect his age. He just Whatneed to
go sit downm shut up and take a chill pill.
What a shameful legacy if you can be honest for once.
VIP is a waste of time