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VG residents demanding a say in rebuilding of BFEC
They are also suggesting they can cut cost by providing community service for the rebuilding.
During the past week, the controversal Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL) announced via his Facebook community channel that Unite BVI, a local not for profit organisation, has committed in principle to plug $1M into the school. Subsequently, a second announcement was made that the local arm of the telecommunications giant, FLOW, had forked out $540,000 for the same school's rebuilding.
“Another successful meeting! We just came to another agreement where Flow will be donating another five hundred and forty thousand dollars ($540,000 US), which will go towards Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary Division,” Hon Walwyn said on Thursday, January 11, 2018.
Involvement, accountability & transparency
However, residents of Virgin Gorda islands have sounded a call for the Minister responsible to have them fully involved in the name of accountability, transparency and effective use of the donors' monies.
Mr Pop Stevens, a man who is known to be very vocal on matters affecting the Territory, called for the community's involvement.
"Mr Minister, listen to the people, let us be involved with the rebuilding of our community. It's us out here at ground level that has the best ideas about what should and should not happen to our community, not some white collar sitting in a penthouse office with a corner view. We need local grassroots level involvement. Order a committee to come up with the best ideas and the best contractors to build back what was destroyed. Why do we have to beg to be involved? Waste and mismanagement cannot be allowed to come into play in the rebuilding of our school. We want to be involved, or else."
Mr Stevens said the touted $600,000 to repair the roof of the school is questionable. "Was there any bidding on this? We want to see all the bids and what went into the figure to repair the roof. We also want to see where the other $400,000 will go towards. The school needs to be taken down because of the severity of the mold infestation. We (volunteers), along with the million dollars, can build a completely new complex."
Among several others standing with Mr Stevens on this call was Mr Carl Mel, who said: "I definitely agree with you Pop. At least the Minister of Education should consider having a meeting with the community on this. He needs to involve us, the 9th District community, and let us voice/have an input on the rebuilding of the school. At the end of the day, it's OUR CHILDREN who are attending that school. #justmytwocents."
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20 Responses to “VG residents demanding a say in rebuilding of BFEC”
Them mi****s want some of that money in there pockets this a big take down let’s see how it plays out
My point is although we may not all be field experts, it’s hard to ignore basic common sense.
There is need for financial audit of every aspect of spending. From the purchase of text books to catering at the hospitals as well as purchasing of pharmaceuticals for the health services. Where ever monies are spent, there is need to stop all the arteries from bleeding of government's money. The premier needs to declare a state of war on the economy and anyone who steels or take kickbacks from the government's projects should be dealt with severely.
Don't give the money to the Government please. The government should only have a say in the drawings/plans of the schools, whether here on Tortola, Virgin Gorda or Jost Van Dyke. We all know what would happen to the monies if they get their hands on it.
Is this $1,000,000. donation a campaign contribution for MW's change of mind for voting for NorthWest to buy Road Town Wholesale over a native who was interested in buying the business, when MW publicly said that sale would never happen? I wonder. The citizens of VG have a right to demand transparency about how the money is going to be spent.
I am also concerned about the donation from flow, when flow seems to not want to spend money to get its system properly functioning.
who is looking out for the interest of the electorate? Just wondering.