Brewer’s Bay bathroom contractor blasts critics over video
A video showing the work done on the controversial Brewer’s Bay bathroom project drew dozens of angry responses after it was posted on social media last Friday.
But the contractor who worked on the project — Kendol Arthur of K&C Construction — lashed out strongly at his detractors in a late night Facebook post of his own, over those criticism. Arthur staunchly defended his company’s handiwork and reminded persons that his bid at $124,000 was the lowest for the project.
“The price that I offered was the price that was used to build the bathroom,” Arthur said. “For most people who’s talking about the price of the bathroom, Mitch (Second District Representative) already explained that it still remains that I was the lowest bidder of eight bids from $300,000 down.”
In captioning the more than two-minute long video, the social media user who posted the footage remarked: “This is what a quarter of a million dollars get you in the BVI.”
The user suggested that residents may not have received value for money with the project, and many persons who shared their views also agreed with this position.
However, Arthur suggested otherwise. He insisted that his company not only executed the job in spite of the relatively low bid, but also accused the person who posted the video of the unfinished project of having a political agenda and of trying to ruin his reputation.
The contractor also alleged that the project manager has been the reason the project remains incomplete to date.
Intentionally misrepresented
In the meantime, Natural Resources Minister, Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull – in whose district the project is located – suggested that criticisms of the project executed under his Ministry, as well as references to its apparent inflated costs were being done with nefarious political intent.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley disclosed just last month that the initial sum awarded to Arthur’s company was not the final project cost and said the government had allotted an additional amount of $101,000 towards the project’s completion through a budget supplementary appropriation.
But when a resident expressed dismay to the premier over the high cost, it was Turnbull who was left to offer an explanation about the project’s breakdown.
The Natural Resources Minister argued that reports suggesting that he was constructing a bathroom valued at more than $400,000 were “complete misrepresentation of the facts for political gain”; the blame for which he laid firmly at the feet of the ruling administration.
Turnbull also said he did not believe moneys paid to the contractor so far have ripped off the public purse and argued that the work done on the project, in his estimation, has offered value for money. He also suggested that he was dissatisfied with the length of time it had taken to come to completion.
According to Turnbull, electric work, pipe fittings, a countertop and the construction of a ramp for differently abled persons are among the things left to be done before the project can be considered as completed.
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That’s what we’re best at, turning on each other. Right or wrong, we as a people are our own worst enemies!
In this case the parties involved seem more worried about explaining the wrongs and defending them, when more time should be dedicated to righting the wrongs and providing plausible solutions to the current problem! No question that a myriad of agendas are at play here, none of which seem to have any concern for the tax paying people of this Country!
STICK WITH MITCH
This guy continually gets contracts when his significant other works RDA. That K&C is not just his name.
Conflict of interest or corruption.
Where can I see the video. It is important that we can determine whether the Government has received good value. Unless this is a work of art rather than a bathroom, I doubt that we have had value for money. Contractors need to be put on the spot if they overcharge the Government.
… KC Construction….he needs to stop!! He got the contract for the government contract for the house at Mcnamara..the bathrooms…all while she is apart of the RDA.And no one was checked on these..Mr.Kendol please GO AND FINISH THE BATHROOM ..TAKE YOUR PARTNER WITH YOU..YOU OWE THE PEOPLE THAT MUCH
Nip the nonsense in the bud NOW! A bathroom with all the trimmings should not cost many many times more than someone’s annual salary and should not take more than three months to complete. This is a height of foolishness. Ditch Mitch for squandering the people’s money. Pay me the same money and I put up 5 bathrooms and still have my annual salary left back. NONSENSE!
With this comment you ain’t built anything in the past 3 years. Much less went grocery shopping at any of the local grocery stores.
The worst part of this project is that Mitch didn’t consult with the community as to where and how the bathroom unit would fit with the existing structure, allowing beach users to utilize it without disturbing family and community activities. While Mitch lives just one ridge away from Brewers, we might as well be living on the moon for all of the attention we have received from him.
We need a representative representing all of the district and hope to elect one who will listen to us and address all of our needs; it certainly hasn’t been Mitch
I doubt this was an RDA contract – it always seems to get value for money. This was almost certainly a contract administered directly by the Government. Hence no value for money.
This man kendoll authur is a nuisance in the trade. He does not deserve to have a trade license to deal with anyone. Who work for him know he a a … contractor. Only because I need the work permit I had deal with he.
Unless you have built any structures of the like in BVI you should hush. This is not about what should or could, its about what is! Do you know the scope of works? The way people just sit down with zero understanding about matters and pretend to be experts is why ww have water, sewagw and other issues 30yrs plaguing us. Everyone is pretending and showboarding while the place burns.
Mr Authur I like you but what else is expected for you to say. If you were spending your own money donating this project to the community I bet you it would not cost so much. The building is a shell and Mitch is a shame.
Haven’t we lauded the bidding of contracts under RDA as fair and transparent? Now this?
Mitch name calling in this one but it was the former Premier Andrew Fahie and the current one make this man feel important. Them allegedly squandering the people them money. This guy is a total di***ace and the gurl love ***** so she enable the transactions.
Everything that that contractor starts is allegedly never finished properly. Look at the fence at the police station and the Government house. Incomplete!
That man is a waste..he n the p*** girl maybe eat tha money
DID SOME OF THE MONEY WENT TO THEM CORRUPT POLITICIAN? THESE ARE THE TYPE OF DISGRACE NOT NEEDED HERE… I FED UP OF PEOPLE LIKE THEM IN THE PLACE. GO BACK TO WHEREVER YOU FROM… GIVE THE LOCAL CONTRACTORS TRADE LICENSE AND LEAVE THESE CO**UPT PEOPLE ALONE.
Kendol, as long as we the people of this Virgin Islands tax payers money is being spent on projects we have the right the question the outrageous cost that you keep getting only to produce half a** work!! you are eating off this gravy train because of where your * work! Do better and start producing complete work that is worth the big dollars your are being paid
Exactly. He is not a sm**t person. Cr**ks always get caught. Andrew Fahie will tell him. Nobody should use his business.
procurement put the building out for tender. The project manager and architect already know the apporiximate cost of the building. bids go in and tenders opened, and are reviewed. In every bid, there is a statement that says that the lowest bidder is not guaranteed the contract. When the bids are examined, procurement is suppose to know who overbid and who underbid. If they all overbid or if they all underbid, then they send it out to bid again. I don’t blame the contractor, but it is procurement or whoever approved the bid. It should have been rejected if it was considered overinflacted
You guys looking at the picture of a th**f. Look closer at that * person. He should be investigated or keep off Myron. The RDA turning a blind eye to this. Them forget they suppose to be transparent. UK please come now buddy.
“However, Arthur suggested otherwise. He insisted that his company not only executed the job in spite of the relatively low bid, but also accused the person who posted the video of the unfinished project of having a political agenda and of trying to ruin his reputation.”
What reputation? This self-proclaimed contractor aka Labourer because co**upt ..friend allegedly help him get a license has been a p**t in doing business with the public.
BVI news please let the people call out the corrupt businesses in the BVI. This is election season. it importante. too much failure because of corruption. some of them quite arrogant and bold face with it. them politician know wha goin on de man. if you dont’ careful them corrupt will turn lie into truth.
Well that narcissist look like he like the spotlight. Knowing the narcissist it will only be a matter of time he will bring down them tha get he the contract. and a not say kickboxing. a talkign kickbacking sport. Omar Hodge not alive to talk the tings.
So the contractor says he had the lowest bid and has delivered…. but the project is not finished (pipes are pretty important in bathrooms…) and almost the exact same amount ($101,000) is needed in addition to the $124,000 the contract was awarded for in order to complete the project?!? And the contractor is trying to say he has done a good job? From what I understand the contract was awarded YEARS ago – and to this day the bathrooms are still not operational. And what is this nonsense about the Project Manager? Surely the drawings go out to tender, bids are received (with detail), and the contractor comes with their OWN project manager?!? Sounds to me like the government assigned ‘project manager’ is a further example of a waste of taxpayer money….
100%
Well Mr contractooor when you digging holes always make sure you digging one for you self. The court of public opinion know that s**t house shouldn’t cost $250K. This worse than WALL-WYN.
Just release the Bill of Quantities and that will settle the nonsense.
this going on in the bvi from long and we are to be blamed. we front business get trade license for people we dont know no qualification nothing and this is the result because greed. bevi cant get no place because all a this.
Stop playing with our money! It is still not finished! Value?? I think not.
buliding materials pricing have went through the roof just like everything else and since Irma prices have more than tripled , I could not afford to build my house today with the prices of material.
Just priced adding some roofing and insted of the $4000 i expected it came to $7300, and thats just some tin for the roof and battens
This project has nothing to do with RDA so why you bringing them up ?
@@nonsense, what exactly is the scope of work that cause a bathroom to cost $250,000 and cannot complete up to today. Tell me. Are you importing gold from Dubai? A bathroom in Brewers Bay DOES NOT COST $250,000!! Stop tell untruth! The nonsense have to stop right now!
Since you claim to be the only one shopping everyday and is the only person qualified to have a say, can you provide the breakdown for the $250,000 bathroom for the public’s knowledge? Inquiring minds want to know.
I guess you’ll drain the sh!t in the sea…
This is a good example of why we need better people in government.
And @reality check- we begged Mithch to look at Brewers Bay and allow thoughtful and well-planned development. no sah! Illegal buildings going up all the time. A new “waterspouts” business building a shack now next to the no-planning-permission Christoher beach bar.
I say ditch Mitch. Troy our boi!
Got millions of dollars without offering wholesale prices around pandemic time!!!
Not voting the NDP EVER !!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mitch is not the only culprit in this craziness. Dig deeper for me they. It’s the one sitting in Miami on restricted bail terms and the accidental premier wrongdoing which give this sca**er spotlight. Get rid of the accidental premier. A matter of fact get rid of all them vote for greedy bill. Kendol can’t even vote but he done cost them the election.
Stop deflecting. This contract was awarded by the Central Tenders Board, Government of the Virgin Islands and has nothing, NOTHING to do with the RDA.
Stop your hate and confusion. His significant other is not a project manager, and doesn’t handle contracts – she works in communications.
This is a public restroom facility, not your house bathroom with one sink and toilet. It has a much more complex system with 8 sections. BVI is not a real place. The monies are justified. Other bathrooms in the BVI cost more, Why the hate for this company?
You clearly have your own agenda and your not open to the truth. The parties defended their reputation which you people clearly maliciously not concerned about the truth.
How much no bid contracts elected representative Neville “Sheep” Smith has been given over the years by this same VIP Government? Not saying what’s going here is correct but there is a lot of corruption going on in this place and all of it needs to be exposed.
Empty Barrel make the most noise
So if the RDA was not involved in this project then which ministry provided the architectural services? Whom is managing the project and verifying the contractors claims of work done and materials onsite? This charade of blaming the D2 rep is tiring and nauseating. TCP is responsible for building developments and approvals. If structures are ‘popping’ up as you say, then isn’t it TCP remit to issues cease orders? What has Troy or Headley contributed to the district since before they up and decided they could be the change D2 needs? Gtfoh with y’all BS. Ask why the new market cost over $1 million and not a window or any other finishes to reach that amount! We got raped on that project and not a squeak outta y’all mice….
What has Mitch done before he was elected, nothing. I’ll go a step further what is he doing now as the current representative, the same s*#t so don’t come on here with your bull!
His contract is for $124,000.
He can only account for what has been assigned to him. Did you read the story? it clearly states someone got the contract for the sewerage valued at $60,000 plus. It has nothing to do with him.
We will find out what going to get drain where on election day…only 14 more days to go.
Same here, daft that we are district 2 but the Minister wouldnt be able to find us if we sent him a map (not even a bit of election bush cutting along our road)
The thing is… to everyone who have a problem with how much the bathroom cost they need to look at how much all of the other public bathrooms around the territory costed. Real question is why cant government ever seem to get a decent price getting anything done. Tender process or no tender process its like government just cant ever pay a fair price. Another question is why we even have a public works department for if everything the government need doing has to be contracted out.
And partna had the nerve to make a post on Facebook LMAO!!!
Ditch Mitch
Stop letting these knuckleheads build stuff!
EVERYTHING they build is overbudget, sometimes never finished (VG Abitwar, Comunity Center, etc).
Put something in the constitution. Don’t trust any of these people with your money!
Yes it is our money! Imagine if you had to pay this much money for a bathroom in your home. We should all be passed off!
The BVI is dealing with a stupidity issue. Most of the residents are not smart enough or well informed to make decisions or form an opinion on their own. Most of the people that have joined the chorus of complaining are doing so because of the very loud mouths of some of the biggest complainers. They follow their lead like sheep without the knowledge of the cost or sufficient information to make a judgement. When they hear bathroom, they picture a one room bathroom like what’s in residential homes and not considering the scale of the project. If you have built a house in the BVI at any time since 2020 you know the cost of building materials and labor is expensive. This project sounds like a typical modern day BVI construction project of this kind.
Try use YOUR brain because when you are in certain positions you have a heads-up on what contracts are upcoming.
Hear you …another nincompoop.
and the accidental premier says there is no corruption….
People of the BVI. Silent Andrew Fahie. Silent Marlon Penn, Silent Natalio Wheatley, Silent Neville Smith, Silent Vincent Wheatley, Silent Sharie DeCastro, Silent Carvin Malone, Silent Kye Rymer, Silent Mark Vanterpool, Silent Mitch Turnbull. I am appalled by where we at today. We have criminals defending themselves because they already view the public as stupid. I’m asking kindly that if you have any doubt about those elected last election then please vote them out. There are more like this construction worker living off the public purse. People like them are a nuisance. They contribute nothing but their poisonous disease of malpractice and abuse. The politicians are so greedy them will continue if the public don’t put a stop to it. I am begging to let get them all out.
Wow
Really
The project manager should be the district rep and the head of the ministry for works, Mitch and Kai. The premier should have been the overseer to insist upon evidence of progress and completion from Mitch and Kai. At least three of the elected officials have failed to oversee the people’s money and that is why these contractors are getting away with highway robbery and incomplete work without valid explanation. No more money need to be given under this contract!! Further, this project need to be completed like yesterday! Stop messing with our money! Since the elected officials cannot hold you accountable, we the people will.
“Birds of a feather flock together.” If you are in the BVI you are just as stupid as us.
I really cannot understand how anyone in their right mind could make such condescending statement in a public forum.
Cuz, I love you but this was a wrong move, you should have never gone on social media and said anything, all you did was draw more attention to yourself, let the district Rep. do the explaining and you just try to finish what you started, sometimes less is more.
Hea old downisland p**k only know good life till him come here d**nce Vincy