ROADTOWN Tortola, BVI, April 20th 2011 - Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday afternoon, Tuesday April 19, 2011 in the ‘other business segment’, Hon. Harrigan said he is aware that projects in other districts usually have contractors from the said districts getting the projects.
He demanded to know why that process was stopped in the 5th district.
“I wonder Mister Speaker if I am being set up to fail or somebody is trying to sabotage me. Do you know why Mister Speaker? When a contract is out for bid I don’t have a problem with that because it goes out in the newspapers to advertise to get the best person for the job. I don’t have a problem with that.
“But when it’s a no bid contract and you are going to short list contractors to do work in the district…the first thing you need to do is to contact the district representative who is representing that district,” Hon. Harrigan pointed out.
The way how things are being done at the moment, the 5th district rep said, is a blatant disrespect to him.
One such case that has infuriated Hon. Harrigan is the stadium currently being built at the A. O. Shirley Ground, which would cost Government $1.6M when completed. A portion will be ready for the CAC games scheduled to begin in late June.
“I knew Mister Speaker, absolutely nothing about this project when it began, even in the preparation phase. When we walked in the A O Shirley Ground the member of the 4th district and I went immediately to the Premier to find out what was going on with it.
And then the Premier asked us to assist, and that is what we are doing right now,” he said in the HOA.
According to Hon. Harrigan “it was a birdie that pinched him and told him what was happening”.
And to add injury to insult, he later learned that a contract was already signed to design and build the stadium by STO Enterprises that did not include any contractors from his district. This, he argued, was all conceptualised and wrapped up in the Premier’s Office. In light of him not knowing, he is now facing the ‘licks’ of his constituents.
“Not only am I being bombarded by a tremendous amount of criticisms from the contractors from the 5thdistrict. All they are telling me is that they had wanted a chance to bid on the contract or a chance to give an estimate on the contract. They knew nothing about it and I as a representative could not say anything because I did not know either. It is disrespectful,” he declared.
Hon. Harrigan added, “People are looking for work and it is unfortunate that they can’t find jobs in their own yard. These are hard times, everybody is looking for work. At least what we can do is give everybody work in their own district.”
The district rep added he has expressed his discontent in caucus since he does not believe “in coming and doing things like this” but given that his concern has not been addressed he has had enough.
“Enough is enough. It has been done a number of times in my district. Let the district representative be involved in the selection process. I am encouraging Ministers whatever they want to do in the district they should contact the district representatives and even let the At-Large representatives should be aware of what is going on,” he noted.
Article taken from Virgin Islands News Online
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