Former top cop urged bids for radar platforms after EZ’s barge offer
After seeing an unsolicited offer for radar platforms from EZ Shipping’s owner, Clyde Chalwell, former Police Commissioner Michael Matthews had suggested for government to allow others to present bids.
Government had hired the shipping company to host radar equipment to assist the territory in detecting smuggling activity when the territory’s borders closed because of the pandemic last year.
Matthews was asked to speak on the matter when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recently.
And in an email read aloud during a recent hearing of COI, Matthews is cited as writing, “… [regarding] such use of private vessels, my view is that for such high sums of money we should go out to tender and let others bid”.
Addressing the COI directly, the former top cop also said he was surprised at Chalwell’s offer since a request for the radar platforms was never put into the public domain and was only up for discussion at the National Security Council (NSC) and Joint Task Force (JTF) level at the time.
“Well, as you can see, as it’s indicated in there, it took me completely by surprise because up until that point, there had been no conversation that I could recall or within the National Security Council around the use of static barges or any proposal,” the former Commissioner stated.
Matthews — who previously expressed a preference to use non-radar charter vessels manned by law enforcement officers to patrol the waters — told the COI that Chalwell offered the barge as a radar platform at an initial cost of $17,500 per day.
Government later disclosed that it retroactively approved $360,000 to be paid to EZ Shipping Limited which had provided two barges for the period from December 23, 2020, to January 22, 2021.
Charter industry offered much cheaper boats
The former Commissioner further related that at one stage, he was tasked to revisit earlier decisions regarding border security and there was much debate in the JTF about what the best solution was.
“When good colleagues in Customs were looking at barge options, at the same time, I had tasked my team back to the charter industry again and look at charter boat options which … were much, much cheaper options on the table as far as I was concerned,” Matthews stated
He told the COI that charter boats were available at one stage for free before some owners later made offers of their vessels of up to $2,000 per week to support law enforcement efforts to patrol the BVI’s waters.
However, the free option was not viable because Customs are not legally allowed to accept gifts. “That can lead to collusion and that kind of the stuff,” said Leslie Lettsome, who was Acting Customs Commissioner at the time of the barge deal.
BVI’s Inadequate security required static radar
Meanwhile, Matthews said he felt that prior to COVID-induced lockdown in the BVI, there was inadequate security on local waters.
“For an island-based community, you know, islands, we were porous, and we needed a robust and visible response on the water,” Matthews stated.
And in discussions with former Governor Augustus Jaspert, Matthews said he pushed for funding to purchase static radar since there was previously an offer developed through UK mechanisms.
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Silk Law suggested that the CoI Counsel is practising law without being admitted to the BVI Bar, but directed that the team should get admitted. The CoI allowed him to continue acting even though he is not admitted. It is pretty concerning that the CoI may be tainted by its counsel possibly acting criminally.
That’s what you’re coming with? My God!
@hmmmm, right NOW the COI is operating on behalf of the crown and needs NO ONE’S APPROVAL. CARRY ON COI!!
It’s not up to Silk Law to direct anyone. They are
Irrelevant.
There is no practicing of law since this is not a trial. You are clearly stupid. I or anyone else competent can be doing this. The real issue is that Rawat has been continuously spanking Silk Law. Why? Because Silk Law clients are afraid to provide documents and testify. They couldn’t submit documents on Friday because they didn’t have paper? Really!! What total horse s**t. They couldn’t borrow a package of paper? Lmfao. Silk Law is being paid how much? This is their best excuse!! No paper? Get cells ready in prison for all of these t***ves.
Most of the lawyers in the BVI never go to Court but they still practice law. Who is stupid now? Counsel to the Commission should be worried if he has committed a criminal offense.
Rowe has some nerve to suggest such when, as the sitting magistrate, he acts for certain defendants in cases he is suppose to be conducting. He needs to go back home where he had to run from
Thanks for playing but you fail.
COI will allow. UK to once again rule us. We obviously need it as we are governed by children who never learned to count.
Council was appointed by the Attorney General so is legitimate. Did that mumbling incoherent “ lawyer “ from non Silk law think they hadn’t thought of that. ?
No amount of trying to employ tricky legalities is going to derail this enquiry into the obvious incompetence and corruption of the BVI government.
Silk Law, Is not up to the task;The Commissioner makes him look like a junior lawyer all the time, He acts like he is in a court of law. I looked at the Commission of Inquiry this morning and what I saw he is not ready for them.
Where do I go to look at the live hearing?
Those marine people keep trying help and government keeps spitting in them face. Why we hate them so?
This government has acted unlawfully
It was a plot all along
On this story. How is Fahie going to justify paying his friend “ but not close friend “ $1.5 million for useless barges that the Police would not even go on, when land based radar and repaired interceptor boats would have been a cheaper, better, permanent solution.
We are being treated like fools by this government.