Gov’t looks to close out $2M aborted tourism plan
The government is in talks to bring an end to a nearly $2 million contract for a tourism plan that was signed two years ago.
In March 2022, the Cabinet, after conducting a bidding process, chose the New York-based public relations agency 5W PR to formulate the plan — a decision documented in a Cabinet summary at the time.
The firm was set to receive $1,971,556, divided into three equal parts of $657,185, over a three-year term. However, this agreement was later suspended, as disclosed by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley to the House of Assembly in September 2023.
Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Dr Wheatley said, “We decided when I became Minister of Tourism… not to follow through with that particular company. So, we were in talks with the company about bringing that situation to an amicable close.”
Premier Wheatley told lawmakers that he needed to consult with the Attorney General’s Chambers before speaking further on the matter.
The Premier previously brushed off criticisms from opposition members that his government has been moving full-speed ahead without a plan to effect changes in the tourism sector and contended that the government simply needs to provide access to the territory.
“We speak about a plan – and we’re going to develop a plan, we will. But I don’t want anybody to think that this thing is rocket science,” the Premier said late last year. “It’s not rocket science. The Virgin Islands is a beautiful place that people want to come to.”
Premier Wheatley argued that his government was on the right track and praised Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer for his efforts in the sector, particularly concerning the introduction of flights between the BVI and Miami.
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All the money they spent previously on this has gone to waste?
This pattern of waste is why the covid grant experiment was as much a success as it was because government cant handle the money.
2 million for a plan, good idea to change direction but it’s probably too late not to waste some money.
Placing the money back in the people’s hands was the best thing to happen since slice bread with all the projects here and there they waste money on it is likely the total past waste & overspend is over 100 million.
With foreign firms paid such as the million dollar greenhouses and many more gone to waste out the country like a air plane. 7 million on the plane?
I hope they will not lose all 2 million THIS time however what money was spent *cough* wasted… could have been spent to grant/award 80 tourism related entrepreneur’s or start ups $25,000, or 79 +training by a qualified professional teacher.
There, $25,000 spent on a foreign trainer, 1.975 million stays in the territory. There is no way they would pay people whose home this is 2 million for an idea.
A properly prepared contract would contain provisions for damages in the event of contract termination for no justifiable cause. Hard to imagine a NY firm signing a $ 2 million contract without such, assuming they did their due diligence about the BVIs as a customer
Mr. Wheatley is coy in stating he decided not to follow through. On would imagine he would have provided valid reasons for his decision if there were any. Accordingly, the question now is how much of the $ 2 miilion will the BVIs have to pay 5W PR firm? And, what was the real reason for their termination?