By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE government will not give the contract to rebuild the fire-damaged dorm at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute to the same contractor, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis confirmed yesterday.
Mr Davis, who is also the minister of works, shot down allegations that the government was again seeking to offer the contract to Audley Hanna of Paradigm Construction. Mr Davis was responding to claims made by Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, who also criticised the government for its “lack of transparency” in the issuance of BAMSI contracts and “handing out contracts in secret.”
Meanwhile, State Minister of Works Arnold Forbes told The Tribune yesterday that the $14m allocated for capital development at BAMSI in the 2015/2016 budget will not be used to reconstruct the male dormitory that was destroyed by fire in January.
Mr Forbes also said the government will make a decision “shortly” on how it will proceed with the matter.
Criticising the government for its handling of the BAMSI problem, Mr Lightbourn said in the House of Assembly yesterday: “Principally no effort was made to ensure that insurance was in place to protect the contractor and more importantly the Bahamian people in the event of a fire. This fact would not have come to light but for the fire at BAMSI, and it is extraordinary how lightly this government has viewed that debacle.
“The fact that they would even consider awarding the contract to replace the building to the same contractor raises more than eyebrows.”
However, Mr Davis stood on a point of order and shot down Mr Lightbourn’s claims.
“The member is suggesting that the government is considering awarding the contract to the same contractor,” Mr Davis said. “From (where) does he base that assertion?”
“If he wants to ask the question, he can simply ask it. He doesn’t have to rely on perception or just what he perceives. If you all want to make it a political football, fine, we will make it a political football. And then rely on perceptions.”
Mr Lightbourn subsequently challenged Mr Davis to reveal just who the contract would be awarded to. However, Mr Davis opted not to do so, instead saying: “You want to know whether I gave the contract to the same contractor, and the answer to that question is no.”
In May, this newspaper reported that the Christie administration has allocated $21m in the upcoming fiscal year for BAMSI, based on information contained in the 2015/2016 budget draft estimates.
According to the document, the Ministry of Works has allocated $14m for capital development at BAMSI while the Ministry of Agriculture has set aside $7m in recurrent expenditure for the facility.
Until yesterday, it was unclear if funding to reconstruct the male dormitory was included in the $14 million allocation. When previously asked, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said the $14 million is for general BAMSI funding, adding that the Ministry of Works will apportion the money.
When questioned yesterday, however, Mr Forbes said: “That has nothing to do with BAMSI. Those monies will be allocated for capital development outside of BAMSI and what’s going on in Andros.”
When questioned about what the government is planning to do regarding the reconstruction of the dormitory, he said: “We’re looking into that now and we’ll make a decision on that shortly.”
The government has been criticised for not being transparent with the public concerning the project in the past. The House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee plans to investigate BAMSI to determine if there were any protocol breaches in the issuance of contracts.
In February, after weeks of uncertainty, Mr Davis revealed that the dormitory constructed by Mr Hanna was never insured.
He had previously told the House of Assembly that at the time of the fire, the contractor’s all-risk insurance policy had lapsed due to non-payment.
This prompted FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to urge the PAC to investigate contracts relating to the project.
Speaking to The Tribune at the end of May, PAC Chairman Hubert Chipman said he is still waiting for BAMSI documents to be presented to the group.
He said he would also question the additional funding allocated to BAMSI In the new fiscal year.
Mr Davis has said it will cost $5.5 million to rebuild the dorm. Meanwhile, Mr Hanna has said that he is willing to construct the facility’s fire-damaged dormitory from scratch, at no cost to taxpayers.
Comments
B_I_D___ 9 years, 5 months ago
Well he can't really rebuild it at no cost to the taxpayers if he isn't awarded the contract to rebuild it now can he? This whole things stinks...sadly not surprised...
DonAnthony 9 years, 5 months ago
Who cares? I want to know Mr. Brave Davis when will the treasury be reimbursed by Mr. Hanna 2.6 million for the destroyed building he is liable for? Make sure interest is added for our lost use of the building. Do not tax us to death with Vat for your incompetency and this man's dishonesty. Not one red cent of my taxes should be used to rebuild. A bottle of hooks is straighter than this crew! They really are all so disgraceful. In a civilized society Mr. Davis would have resigned long ago.
GrassRoot 9 years, 5 months ago
I think he should get the contract and do it for free.
asiseeit 9 years, 5 months ago
The crony will get a free ride, nothing to see here, business as usual. The dorm was not even finished, was the man paid for work yet to be completed and after the fire unable to do said work? Which crony will get the new contract? Will ANYBODY manage this contract and work? Who pays for the demolition of the burned out building? Will the Bahamian people ever get a true and honest accounting of BAMSI (LOL, I know silly question, it will never happen)? BAMSI is a good idea, to bad corruption, greed, and cronys had to be part of it as with ANYTHING the PLP does. I wonder if being corrupt is learned or just in certain peoples DNA?
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 5 months ago
Will Hanna be made to pay the new contractor? Or will he just walk off into the sunset?
asiseeit 9 years, 5 months ago
You think they will hold a crony accountable? Jokes!
themessenger 9 years, 5 months ago
Mr. Hanna has already admitted that he can't afford to rebuild the building and he probably won't get the contract as that would be more than even the most rabid PLP's could stomach. On the flip side, he probably won't be held accountable either and will just crawl back under that big PLP rug where so much else the public wants to know about is hiding. By the way,Mr. Davis still hasn't told us why the rebuilding will now cost double what it cost to build originally and which funds will be used as Hanna is "broke". That new allocation of funds for BAMSI in the budget gone up in smoke already.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
Will he be asked to pay? Will he get a subcontract?
Chucky 9 years, 5 months ago
if 100,000 bahamian march downtown and demand answers, they might just get some! Otherwise it's just a waste of time listening to the verbal diarrhea from the liars in house!
watcher 9 years, 5 months ago
This is just another lesson in Bahamas Economics 242. They have to give the job to rebuild to another crony, so that he can give kickbacks to all the usual party honchos. If they gave the contract to the same contractor as before, even the PLP might feel some shame at how blatantly they are ripping off the country
asiseeit 9 years, 5 months ago
The one word every Bahamian should be vex about is "GAVE", nobody should be given this contract, it should have been "WON". As in the best company, with the best price and track record should have WON the contract. No government should give the people money to anyone!
newcitizen 9 years, 5 months ago
So many people are blaming and calling out Hanna for the rebuilding and cost. This is focusing the spotlight on the wrong person. Mr Hanna screwed this whole thing up, but the real people to blame are those in the government and mostly Brave Davis. It was Davis who allowed the building to be built without insurance. It was Davis who awarded this contract that had no tender process. It is Mr Davis who now says the rebuild cost will be double. Hanna cut corners because Davis let him do so.
The full blame of this whole fiasco should rest on the shoulders of Brave Davis and the PLP government. If they had done their job of hiring a competent contractor and ensuring there was proper coverage on the building then there would be no problem. It is Davis and the PLP who are responsible.
Honestman 9 years, 5 months ago
You are spot on with your observation. Watch for another non-transparent award to another PLP crony for the rebuild. Bahamians are being so ripped off by this party and yet the sad thing is, many will vote for them again come 2017.
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
The government needs to have a standard system to award certain size projects to companies that have the resources to complete these projects on time and at high quality. For example if you know that a company does not have the capacity to do a 20 million job, dont award them the contract ............ Hanna is now saying he is bankrupt ......... where is the proof of that, after being given scores of government jobs in the past 20 years???
Sign in to comment
OpenID