Gov’t has made petty contract system almost non-existent — Penn
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has criticised the government for what he describes as ‘forcing small contractors out of business’.
His accusations are premised on the argument that the government made the petty contract system virtually obsolete by having the Public Works Department complete most projects.
Speaking at a press conference called by the members of the Opposition last week, Penn said one of the things he notices is the Andrew Fahie-led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government’s continuous talk about ‘looking out for the small man’. However, the Opposition Leader said this is not the case as small contractors are no longer getting contracts through the petty contract system.
“That process seems to be non-existent at this time. Many of, in particular in my district, the smaller jobs that would have been left to be done by the petty contractors have now been conducted by Public Works for the most part. Particularly now the bridge that I highlighted was undermined at Parham Town, Public Works, for the most parts, is completing the work at that bridge,” Penn said.
“There was one person who was hired as a supervisor and a few other skilled persons but there were not any petty contracts dished out for the work. I want that to be clear because there is misinformation being spread throughout the community in terms of who has what jobs and who is doing what and I think the public needs to understand how this works and what is actually going on right now,” the Opposition Leader added.
Penn, who is Eight District Representative, indicated that the same observations have been made in other Opposition constituencies.
“That is where many of those persons get their start to progress to large contractors to be able to provide the level of service that we would need in our community,” the Eight District Representative said.
Poor road infrastructure
Penn also used the time to highlight poor road infrastructure in his district and the Seventh District, represented by Dr Natalio Wheatley, the Deputy Premier.
“We continue to complain and request support, particularly with the road infrastructure in our community. That is a pet peeve for us in the Eighth and Seventh districts. Sometimes I wonder if they (the government) realise their colleague is in the Seventh District. He is the Deputy Premier,” the Eight District Representative said.
“Both of us get the same level of mistreatment in terms of that community and the level of damage and lack of maintenance of the road infrastructure which is a responsibility of the Minister of Transportation and Works. From Hope Hill into Parham Town and beyond we still have those issues in Greenland as well. I wanted to be clear in terms of the process and how it works,” the Opposition Leader added.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
That same RDA might cause them the election because its only one set ah people getting all the work…Its not them alone can vote….What about the unfortunate contractors who are in the majority?
LET ALL OF US SMALL PETTY CONTRACTORS HOLD ONE HEAD AND VOTE AGAINST THE VIP
Please Stop This wast started under your administration (NDP)!
and continued under the VIP…..2 wrongs don’t make it right
This was definitely the case under the NDP Smith & Skelton and there was no RDA at the time.
If my memory serves me correct, it was Hon. Penn colleague (Hon. Vanterpool) bose around 2011 term that how he going to do x y z amount miles of road and not even a 1/4 miles did he do. 2 wrong don’t make it right but speak the truth when you talking.
Lol smurf knows why. Just playing ah dam fool wid the people dem. ?
WHEN WALWIN TRIED TO PUT BREAD O THE SO CALLED SMALL MEN’S TABLE / YOU LET VIP PRETENDERS PULL THE WOOL OVER YOU ALL EYES AND YOU ALL PLAYED GAMES WITH THE WALL CONTRACT TO MAKE HE LOOK BAD ? SO HUSH
Marlon is a l**r.
Whoever is advising Marlon need to be fired. One day he is talking about fiscal responsibility now he is advocating squandering government monies. I have no issues with the petty contract system as the smaller work men should get work but how can you set up a business to only do government business? What about doing petty contracts or sub-contracting in the private sector? Also if we have PWD equipped to undertake road works why not? Is Penn advocating that we purchase equipment at PWD, maintain it, staff the departments and just have them being paid to do nothing?
Excellent comment!! We are paying a department to do work such as this but yet the Opposition Leader thinks its fit to spend more Govt money to give a contractor the same job. What sense does it make. Talking fiscal responsibility in one breath but flip flopping in another. I just don’t get it.
Stop talking nonsense! How could it be fiscally responsible to have 10 PWD workers on a job that should have taken 1 month, gone pass 1 month and only halfway completed. That is the case with the bridge at Parhamtown and other jobs being done by PWD. This is a never ending bill. If this was done via petty contract the contractor would have been held to the amount.
This Government is going to destroy our treasury with their irresponsible behavior and we continue to twiddle or thumb while bvi burns to the ground flat.
siddung. Talking Mouse Cat, WHAT U GOT IS WHAT U AIMED FOR!
SON IN OTHER WORDS , THOSE SMALL MINDED WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN DO THE JOB VERY EFFICIENTLY INSTEAD THEY BLEW IT , SO HOW THEY EXPECT TO GET CONTRACT IF THEY CAN’T EVEN BUILD A WALL ??