AUDIT: Political Advisor contracts undermine fair procurement
Auditor General Sonia Webster has raised serious concerns over the appointment of ministerial political advisors, citing their involvement as undermining the government’s procurement process.
In her 2024 Audit Report on Major Public Contracts, Webster revealed that political advisors were often hired through petty contracts before their roles were upgraded to more substantial contracts under the guise of “continuation of service.” According to the Auditor General, “There was a noted trend whereby political and politically affiliated consultants were initially hired under the petty contracts regime, after which their assignments were bumped upwards to a waived major contract.”
Webster’s scrutiny of the “Ministerial Political Adviser” position in July 2021 showed that three contracts under the Premier’s Office were converted under this provision. These contracts bypassed the normal public tendering process, raising concerns about transparency and value for money.
Webster argued that this method of contracting undermines the public procurement process by sidestepping the competitive bidding system intended to ensure fairness and accountability in awarding public contracts. “This practice has evolved to facilitate the hiring of individuals or services on major contracts over the long term,” she added, underscoring that such actions undermine the integrity of the public procurement process.
As outlined in the Public Finance Management Act, the public tendering process requires contracts above $100,000 to be awarded through competitive bidding unless exceptional circumstances allow for waivers. However, the report revealed that only 42.36% of major contracts from 2019 to 2022 went through the tender process. In contrast, 57.10% of contracts were awarded through Cabinet waivers, many involving political consultants and advisors.
Broader pattern of concerns
This revelation aligns with a broader pattern of concerns highlighted by Webster. She pointed to instances where ministries frequently bypassed the tendering process, often citing urgency or the continuation of service as justifications. While these reasons can be valid in some cases, the report emphasized the need for better planning to reduce reliance on waived contracts and ensure that public funds are spent efficiently and transparently.
Webster’s findings called for stricter adherence to procurement rules and an end to practices that allow politically affiliated individuals to secure long-term contracts without fair competition. The report also highlighted the potential for these waivers to give certain contractors an unfair advantage, creating an environment favoring those with political connections over others.
The audit, conducted under the Audit Act 2003 in response to the Commission of Inquiry’s Recommendation B18, aimed to identify weaknesses in the contract process, including the misuse of waivers, deficiencies in contractor selection, and ensuring value for money in project completion.
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Is she the only person holding the BVI accountable? Incredible how after years of COI the BVI is sliding down into the abyss of corruption again..
it’s not sliding back. It never left that swamp
Oh come on this is so bogus because some of them believed the esteemed was getting a ministerial contract set of worms
Good thing school children say he did not accept
It wasn’t that he didn’t accept. It was that it was blocked because of his pending criminal matter.
First I am hearing he had such a matter where can I find this?
The BVI is a serious s**t show where dishonesty is prevalent in the DNA of the majority. Morally we are fundamentally flawed. Confused and ignorant we wander aimlessly through a vicious and heartless world. While the majority try to pacify themselves and others with religious rhetoric the harsh reality of our existence dawn upon us like the morning sun.
Sonia Webster is my hero. She speaks truth about these shysters. The BVI would be in far worse shape without her keen eye on these people.
I don’t understand why a territory with only 30k people even needs political advisors. You’ve got the HOA members, ministers, deputies, permanent secretaries, a raft of assistants, Governor, Deputy Governor, and who knows who else. You mean all those people can’t come up with a policy?
WTF? So nobody understands what a ‘Political Advisor’ is? How do you tender for a partisan post? I am all for transparency but to what end? What are we really doing here? If we were to follow this AG and others nothing at all would get done here because of a friendship, 2nd cousin, business relationship and the list goes on. What the f**k is really happening? Ministers should be able to hire who they want as a Political Advisor as it’s a political appointment.
If Sl*man’s political advisor cooked up the idea for the music fest, then the BVI taxpayer is not getting value for money.
The same people complaining that road works and other things taking too long are here praising the AG for this nonsense. The true impact of these measures will be seen very soon, just wait. The AG collects a warm salary monthly and feels no pain so she can sit down all day/night and write s**t.
Governance and Accoutability
I always say these so call leaders in the BVI are not.leaders.They.are nothing more than puppets on a string.Can’t speak for themselves can’t defend nor deliver on stage
That’s why they don’t have meetings with constituents/districts.The BVI is a pile of s**t when it comes to leadership.Sloman has an average of four advisors,why?Because he is nothing more a a** clown
Webster for PREMIER
Not she. She r***rded just like her father, GM
Cool….. a r**ard exposing their backsides.
So basically most political advisors are white collar criminals like a crook in a suit.
The only solution now is to charge all the suspect advisors and ministers with breach of trust and let the dominoes fall in a neat long row of convictions.
I believe she would make a great premier, but only if she is willing to accept that it is her destiny. Accountability is her role and strength. You have my vote if it ever comes to fruition.
@?? you just showed us where your head is.
Well we all know that these are just his lil girlfriends on the side. These people have zero political knowledge or governmental knowledge or any influence at all. But he gave them jobs to keep them close so he can get a lil ride from time to time. Cyndy been trying to expose this long time. But seriously we can’t expect every darned thing to go through the tender process! A political advisor is someone you trust to guide you and advise you. No way can that selection be open for bids.
Soon comes light.
It is quite obvious that they are still taking us for a set of moo-moos.
What’s worse, we are still allowing them to.
When will WE ever learn that WE have the power, not them?
They’re all crooks. UK now
How do you tender for a Political Advisor? Shouldn’t they just scrap the posts in this case? A Political Advisor is usually a trusted person of the Minister, most likely of the same party and on the same page politically. So, how do you tender for these posts? Someone please answer.
So what is the role of the Permanent Secretary?
Why is the salary of a political advisor paid by the BVI Treasury?? Surely a minister that needs any type of advisor should pay the person’s salary NOT the taxpayers of the BVI!
really. this garbage needs to be campaign funded, not pulling funds from same monies needed to pull this 3rd world up from the gutter . .