Questionable things happening at Ports Authority – Penn
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has voiced concerns regarding the management and policies of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA).
During yesterday’s sitting in the House of Assembly, Penn highlighted controversial activities at the Ports Authority, particularly those relating to taxi operations and decision-making processes within the Authority.
“There’s some questionable things up there that is happening,” Penn said. “I’m hopeful that we could get some answers, particularly on the Ministry’s policy in terms of how they intend to move forward.”
Penn emphasised the need for greater transparency and good governance. Referring to the Ports Authority Amendment Bill, he noted that changes have been made to improve governance and transparency. “We’ve made some very direct changes to the way that the boards are governed and operate… particularly the issue of indemnification,” Penn stated, referring to the protections being put in place for board members who make decisions on behalf of the Authority.
One of the key issues Penn highlighted was the lack of clarity surrounding the tender process for taxi operations at the territory’s ports. For years, taxi operators have functioned under local taxi associations. However, Penn questioned the decision to tender taxi services at the airport while other ports, such as West End and Road Town, continue to operate under the traditional association model. “We cannot have arbitrary decisions like this… where only one port is being tendered,” Penn remarked.
He stressed the need for the Communications and Works Ministry to clarify its policies regarding the management of taxi operations at the ports.
“Not because now a couple planes coming in, a little more planes coming into Beef Island, everybody sees more lucrative, and we’re trying to now pull the rug under those individuals who were there for years, operating when nothing or no traffic was coming to Beef Island,” Penn cautioned.
Penn also expressed concerns about the operations of the Tortola Pier Park, which he described as being run by a single board member in the past. “You cannot have an institution that is spending millions of taxpayers’ dollars… with one member ultimately making all the decisions,” he said.
He called for adjustments in the legislation to prevent such issues from recurring, ensuring that decisions are made transparently and in the public’s best interest.
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You’d have thought that someone would have take a closer looks at Ports sooner given the previous Port’s directors activities. Sounds like some squabbling taxi men to me
He says the port needs to have the same taxi talks. This news site has a title to mislead as always. They want another cocaine scandal so bad.
I am sick and tired of all these so called politicians. This dude been in government so long and have been in when his party was in charge. I guess these issues just now start to happen. Just work with the people in charge and come up with a proposal. If they don’t do something then you let us know. Show us the documents you proposed!
Seems like you guys just sit at home and dream up sh** to talk about.
DO SOMETHING and stop the blame game.
Please calm down or go take your . Did you even read the story? The board took a decision to tender taxi services for one port over the others. The Authority is disenfranchising one taxi association and allowing the others to operate, that is wrong!
No other Government did that and Hon. Penn has a right to call them out on it. You’re telling persons who have been operating for over 40yrs that they can’t taxi at Beef Island? How could that be right? Are you not asking for trouble? Fair is fair!
The Minister didn’t do that for Road Town or West End but he wants to do it for Beef Island? All hell will break out in Beef Island if that happens mark my words.
Everyone needs to read and understand. Do we know WHYYYYYYY the tender was done for one and not the other? Do we properly understand the nuances of each port and the sub-agreements that may be involved? For the Pier Park for example, aren’t there Berthing Agreements in place with cruise lines that dictate certain things that would include transportation, safety, security etc. that would need to be considered for that particular port? Everything seems to be more about causing confusion that actually trying to clarify anything. Correct me if I am wrong but all elected officials don’t have access to the Chairman/PS and other Senior Officers to seek clarity on things before making public noise? Could it be that with the increased AA Traffic the BVIAA realizes that something more formal need to be done? With expansion in the works, can we continue at Beef Island under the current regime? Hon. Penn do all beaches have a beach management plan like yours at Beef Island? If not, why not? Why aren’t you asking about that?
When it comes to the Pier Park there are a lot of unfair practices there and someone needs to look into this.One taxi has TWO drivers so one driver will be working for an agent today and another driver will be driving for that same person in the independent line that same day.On a ship day the agents transports will be working two and three times because they should be doing tours but now they are taking the guests to the beach and that should be for the independent drivers so I have to wait three to four ship days before I can get a work and that is very unfair.This needs to be fixed.
With one taxi there are two drivers so one driver will be at another work and have the other driver working for that driver,off island retired ete and another driver will work for that person.
The taxi men will never be happy, what’s new? Most of them are clueless about business and service, only interested in making the most cash.