Gov’t suspends contract with firm hired to ‘rebuild’ BVI’s reputation
The government’s partnership with Maitland Consultancy Firm regarding public relations and brand promotion has been placed on hold for the foreseeable future.
The consultancy firm was issued a no-bid contract worth $750,000 in April, according to Cabinet documents, to provide “integrated communications support” to continue to rebuild the BVI’s reputation in the international market.
The Cabinet said the ‘brand image’ rebuild contract was regarding the four-month extension that was granted to the Commission of Inquiry, but it did not offer any further explanation.
A separate five-month contract
The Cabinet release had also advised that the government had already entered into the new contract with Maitland Consultancy since January 1 and the contract ran for five months.
Former Premier of the territory, Andrew Fahie, had said the government did not have ample time to put out a bid for the contract so the tender process waived and Maitland was hired.
The contract, which expired yesterday, was expected to cover the January to May period, but Cabinet had indicated it will also be requesting an additional sum exceeding one million dollars for future anticipated expenses this year.
However, speaking at a press conference on Friday, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley confirmed that the government is no longer in an active partnership with the firm for its services.
“We have put our particular relationship with Maitland Consultancy on hold right now. Right now, we are not necessarily in the need of their services right now but of course, we may need consultancy services as it pertains to public relations in the future and that is a consideration. But for right now it is placed on hold,” the Premier said.
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Kind of makes you wonder what the real reason is. This was one ( of the many ) of Fat Alberts special no tender contracts. At the level of honesty he displayed you have to wonder what was in it for him? And if he is now not getting whatever was in it for him , who is? And if no one is then there will be no contract.
Hope he didn’t had to pay them out?
Please. There is no reputation to ‘rebuild’. The best choice for the BVI is for the temporary premier to apologize to all the visitors to the BVI in the last 40 years and offer monetary reparations for all their suffering endured here while on ‘vacation’.
You people do blogg a lot of BS. Then they love suffering because most return.
Maybe not how they envisioned, but if ever the BVI needed an image rebuild!
The Government has to pay all backpays to the civil servants. Them too have families and goals that has to be fulfilled to live a better life.
Think about the welfare of the people of this nation. That’s how you start!
Pay all the back-pay as agreed then fire half of them. A population of less than 40,000 yet we have more civil servants than countries with populations of 100,000+. Pay them what they’re owed (and agreed upon), then make them EARN it from now on.
Can the public please get a report of what progress was made by this consultancy firm from January – May.
Sounds like free money.
No Tendered contract for nearly a million to improve the appearance of a bunch of cr**ks.
i.e. paying a beneficiary of cronyism and corruption ridiculous amounts to cover up cronyism and corruption.
If this doesn’t show people how arrogant this bunch of theives are then nothing will.
???