UPDATE: Hon Fraser demands answers on cruise project land side development
These are among the questions down on the Order Paper for the Seventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly scheduled for Friday June 13, 2014.
“Madam Speaker, could the Honourable Minister for Communications and Works please tell this Honourable House: a) who were the contractors that bid on the Cruise Pier Landside Project? b) what were the amounts of each bid received? c) was the Contract awarded to the lowest bidder? d) If the answer to (c) is no, then doesn’t that violate Section 11 (b) of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management…?”
His question went on to outline that the protocols state that “All projects must be subjected to a Tendering and procurement process that guarantees the highest levels of transparency and fairness practicable…”
Hon Fraser also asked to whom the contract was awarded and what was the justification or rationale for such an award.
See previous story published on June 4, 2014:
James Todman Construction questions contract award
-says successful bidder had a higher price at tender opening
Speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online on June 3, 2014, an official of James Todman Construction said that the process by which the contract was awarded for an element of the landside development phase of the works is questionable and raises red flags.
The BVI Ports Authority in a press release on Friday May 30, 2014 stated that a contract was awarded to Ports and Marina Services Ltd in the amount of $4.9m.
However in speaking to this news site, an official of Todman Construction who declined to be named said that the company felt it necessary to come to the media to register its dissatisfaction with how the contract was awarded.
“James Todman Construction bid on the land side project. They invited us to the opening of bids where the numbers were called. James Todman Construction was the first called where the [price] was $3,739,801.38. The next one was Meridian Construction which was $4,040,153.11. The other one, Ports and Marina Services Ltd. which was $5,184,405.31,” the person said.
The person believes that there might have been some element of negotiation with the successful bidder and decried that James Todman Construction was not offered a similar opportunity.
“In the way that it is done in all the years I know it, you normally call one of the contractors. If we are looking for transparency in numbers and value for money in numbers based on what was said on previous announcements through the media, then I figure that between [the lowest and second lowest in terms of pricing] one of them could have been called,” the person stated.
“Based on what I am seeing on the news of what was signed, I am seeing a figure which was not called out on the day of the opening,” the person said. “It means that if it is being published at that price someone had to negotiate. In this business there should be fairness and honesty, not select who you want,” the person told this news site.
“I’m not pleading to get a job as a favour. I’m saying that I should be treated fairly. This company is recognized highly through the BVI and through the Caribbean and when you will tell me that the company has not even had the chance to sit with nobody pertaining to this project and question my numbers, it raises a flag in my mind,” said the James Todman Construction representative.
Efforts by Virgin Islands News Online to reach Managing Director of the BVIPA Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline for his response to the issues today June 4, 2014 proved futile.
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39 Responses to “UPDATE: Hon Fraser demands answers on cruise project land side development”
They took the first from he but d...it ensure he got the second bite of the cake
In order to make a sound decision other factors and negotiation would be involved.
That is, if the end result is to be sound, professional and fair with foresight and hindsight.
At this stage of BVI deelopment, we shoud have learned that most situations are not black and white.
I think Todman would be better served if rather than jump on the bandwagon of attack, seek to learn why they were not chosen and with that attitude, learn for the future.
I believe in calling a spade a spade! NDP just feel that James Todman get enough under VIP and it is now time for their people to get so that they (NDP) can benefit!
well said .If we expect value for money then james todman construction is the better company for this job. this is not the time play with tax payers money.c....e and de....o need to stop.