NDP accuses VIP of mismanaging admin complex funds

The National Democratic Party (NDP) has accused the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government of mismanaging funds earmarked for repairs to the Ralph T O’Neal Administration Complex, claiming that approximately $40 million has been allocated to the building since 2017, with no confirmed reopening date.

Second District Representative and NDP Vice Chairman Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull raised the concern during the party’s radio programme this week after a caller questioned how much money the government had committed to restoring the hurricane-damaged facility.

Turnbull said the continued allocation of funds without the building returning to full use raised questions about the government’s management of the project.

“I think the more we are digging into this question, we realise we have a problem with the mismanagement of the funds,” Turnbull stated.

He explained that the approximately $40 million represented allocations and commitments rather than confirmed expenditure.

“The amount of money that was put towards the executing of the reopening of the admin complex so far, is about $40 million,” Turnbull stated.

The discussion followed questions from a caller who referred to an $11.4 million insurance payment associated with damage to the complex following the 2017 hurricanes.

The caller also questioned previous allocations for lift and roof repairs, along with a further $7 million reportedly proposed for repairs and outfitting.

“My major question is, what happened to the money from before?” the caller asked.

Turnbull said the government had continued committing resources to the complex without establishing a definite timetable for its reopening.

“When I look at the numbers, and we went through this exercise last week, when you look at the numbers from 2017 to how much money from 2019 the government has pledged, we’re about $40 million,” Turnbull stated.

He argued that the government should adopt a phased approach to reopening the building rather than waiting until the entire complex was refurbished.

Turnbull said opposition members Marlon Penn, Ronnie Skelton, Myron Walwyn and himself had proposed repairing sections of the building and relocating government departments into completed areas while work continued elsewhere.

He criticised the government’s approach, arguing that successive financial commitments had failed to produce the intended result.

Turnbull maintained that a change of government would be necessary to complete the project and restore the complex as a functioning centre for government operations.

Government officials have previously attributed delays to redesign work, procurement and other construction challenges. In May 2025, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer reported that approximately $8 million had been spent, while contracts and purchase orders totalled about $10 million.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said in June 2026 that the government remained committed to reopening the complex in 2027, with major interior works moving towards implementation.