Rymer concerned over single tender for roadworks project
Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer has voiced concerns about the prolonged decision-making process surrounding the government’s 38-mile roadwork project.
The project, which is valued at approximately $37 million, has only attracted a single tender, raising questions about the initiative’s transparency and progress. In an interview with ZBVI Radio, Rymer confirmed that the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the delay, noting that the tendering process has not yet reached the Cabinet.
“This tender was sent to the Ministry of Finance, I think, last year, around October, and from the Ministry’s standpoint, we are awaiting the outcome of the tender,” Rymer stated.
The tender, submitted by a company based in St Kitts, was the only bid received for the roadwork project. Opposition member and Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn had earlier raised concerns about the lack of competition in the bidding process and called for an investigation.
While Rymer acknowledged these concerns, he explained that the process has been transparent, citing an open tender that allowed any qualified company to participate.
“An open tender is fair game. Anyone can bid. There is no restriction on who could or couldn’t bid,” he explained. “A person who deserves to do work within the jurisdiction, once they have the capabilities or they have the interest, they will bid,” said Rymer, who also expressing uncertainty about the specifics of Penn’s concern.
“I’m not sure what information the member for the Eighth has, but I am not familiar with what those concerns would be,” he said.
Despite these issues, Rymer reiterated his belief that the tendering process had been conducted transparently and fairly. The 38-mile road project is part of a broader effort to improve the territory’s public infrastructure, which has been under strain due to hurricanes and general wear and tear.
However, with no local companies submitting bids, questions have been raised about the ability of local firms to compete for such large-scale projects. The fact that only one company submitted a bid has fuelled calls for a review of the tendering process. Rymer expressed frustration with the delays in moving the project forward, stressing that the Ministry of Finance needs to expedite the decision-making process.
He also noted that no other companies participated, even after extending the tender to allow more bids.
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That money should be circulating in the BVI so when it gets to cabinet send it back to be re-tendered.
We really f..king stupid here in the bvi!I think we need to shut down the government, not blaming this administration, the system on a whole!6
The same way you all hand picked the same people over and over again and again, the same way you should find our local eligible contractors to encourage them to apply. They are probably discouraged because of all the handpicking you all did for your 5 years so far.
He well know what’s going on
The whitehead man does circulate money? When last he sponsored something. The road works need to be done properly instead of this large patchwork that needs to be professionally done.
OR it could be a family thing so anyway you turn it ain’t nothing new , everybody is being distracted by THOSE who is specialized in DECEPTION and is using RACISM to fool us and take
Away our ATTENTION from the REAL TRUTH
OR it could be a family thing so anyway you turn it ain’t nothing new ,
everybody is being
distracted by
THOSE who is
specialized in DECEPTION and
is using RACISM
to fool us and
take Away our ATTENTION from the REAL TRUTH / these hypocrites needs to be exposed
How many local ‘qualified’ contractors does it have for this job anyway? I have only heard of one and it would be the same one that contributes to our road problems.
Who is that? Many roads built by local contractors are still good roads. So who?
Does the Virgin Islands (British) have a competitive number of large, qualified, experienced, capitalized, local, etc, road/street contractors? If so, the contracting officer should contact these contractors to determine why they didn’t bid on the Invitation for Bid(IFB). If there is a competitive local bidding list, can the IFB be limited only to local bidding? Buying and keeping money local has a multiplier effect on the economy. On the other hand, if there are few to no large, qualified, experienced, capitalized local bidders, the IFB may need to be open. Further, in order to keep the contract local, local small qualified road contractors can come together and pool their resources, forming a company, to bid on the road project .
Is the project , a progress payment or an advancement payment contract? Is the lack of capital limiting local road contractors from bidding on the project ? Is the contract a low, responsive, and responsible bid, or a best value bid? Competition normally brings lower bids. As such , the IFB should be repackaged and readvertised. Is the Ministry of Finance the contracting officer?
@E. Leonard, everybody needs to eat, take care of family,,etc, but when government award contract to inexperienced contractors they get poor quality..Everybody who can barely pound nail straight wants to be contractor. It is nice to be ambitious but that ambition sometimes comes at a high cost , ie,,contractor embarrassment, poor and delayed service to customers , etc.. Contracting is more than the technical aspects; it includes the business aspects also, ie, labor cost, material cost, equipment /machinery cost, overhead costs, fair and reasonable bid, profits, change orders for latent defects, unforeseen conditions; liquidated cost, etc. Poor estimating andc bidding can lead to default and delay in getting the facility, product, service. I’m preaching to choir for I know you know what I’m talking about. The bottom line is that contractors must learn the technical aspects, as well as the business aspects. HLSCC can bridge the gap.
@@E. Leonard, good points on bidding/contracting process, and the cost of awarding to inexperienced contractors. Best value process can help in identifying the best qualified contractors. Low bid creates the mirage of equality in bidding, ie, everyone can bid . The reality is low bid is best used small acquisitions, ie, product and services. Further, agree that awarding to under qualified, inexperienced, etc, contractors come at a high cost. Moreover, it is surprising that no local contractors and only one external contractor bidded on performing work on miles of road. Is something rotten in the state of Denmark??? Something is wrong..
By the way, E. Leonard I like your point on spending and keeping money local. We are a heavy importing nation but we should as much as practical and possible engineer, partake, engage in spending and keeping money local.
Senor Leonardo, I don’t mind spending local if I get fair and reasonable price, quality, good customer service. If I cannot get it in the BVI, I will look elsewhere. I’m motivated to spend local , for I understand the benefit, but I have to get fair and reasonable, quality and good customer service..I know spending local boosts the economy, creates and sustain employment but some merchants behave like they doing you a favor. One of the big rat driver for people wanting to shop outside the teritory is pricing, poor customer service, eg, no return policy,no refund for poor quality products. Government should not set price control but it can look and ensure customers are getting value for money.
Sad but so true. These people know exactly whats going on. They play stupid but they know. . Welcome to the BVI. Once their pockets lined the country can continue to suffer.
U need to hush , you just another hypoçrite playing trump , try telling the truth for once ( we all are island people xenophobia has messed up your mind ) you pastor TURNBULL – CSC – & judge WIGO are all the same
I want water……no pipes in my area and we in the 21st century and can’t get street water because the Government can’t buy pipes.
John Bull watching every move.