By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Agriculture and Marine Science Institute contractor Audley Hanna said yesterday that he is willing to construct the facility’s fire-damaged dormitory from scratch, at no cost to taxpayers, following revelations that the building was not insured.
Mr Hanna, of Paradigm Construction, said he did not know where he will get the money to rebuild the structure in North Andros, but would find it if the government re-engages him.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis revealed that the contractor did not have an insurance policy for the structure, although he was legally required to submit the original all-risk insurance document to receive stage payments.
“If it means I have to put the building back to the way it was, I’ll do that but that ain’t my call, that’s the government’s call,” Mr Hanna told The Tribune.
“I’ll do it and it wouldn’t be any cost to them.”
When asked where he would find the resources to rebuild the dorm, he said: “I don’t know, but I could find it if it becomes necessary to.”
Mr Davis has said that the cost for rebuilding the structure, which will be reconfigured for double occupancy instead of single, would be around $5.5 million.
Mr Hanna did not give a direct response when asked about the fact that he did not insure the $2.6 million structure. However, he urged this newspaper to question the motives behind the decision to set the dormitory on fire.
He noted that the man accused of the arson attack, Dave Dion Moxey, 50, is a relative of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
The Tribune has confirmed that Mr Moxey is a distant relative of the Killarney MP.
“This is a lot deeper that y’all realise,” Mr Hanna said.
A massive fire gutted the male dormitory at BAMSI on January 15. Following the blaze, officials in the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Agriculture gave mixed answers in the face of questions about the building’s insurance.
On February 25, Mr Davis initially told the House of Assembly that the building had a lapsed insurance policy because Mr Hanna had failed to pay the annual insurance premium that covered the structure.
But Wednesday, he backtracked from those comments. He said he did not receive the contractor’s file until March 2, which was when he said he learned the facts of the matter. He said the contractor had only provided the Ministry of Works with a quote for insurance coverage for six months from RoyalStar Assurance.
Last month, Mr Hanna told a reporter that he thought the dormitory was insured at the time of the fire by a company called Southern Alliance.
Comments
realfreethinker 9 years, 8 months ago
Yeah you will find it " right out of that $5.5mil brave said it will take to rebuild". These clowns really take us for real asses
DonAnthony 9 years, 8 months ago
We were also told by Mr. Hanna and Mr. Davis that the building was insured and it was not. It was a bold faced lie so why would we believe anything these men have to say. Mr. Hanna deposit the $2.6 million in the treasury immediately, until then the Bahamian people do not believe a single word that comes out of your mouth. We are sick and tired of coverups, cronyism, and LIES.
cmiller 9 years, 8 months ago
We don't care about how this is deeper than we realize, we only care that these bunch of LYING LIARS said that a building was insured when it wasn't. If the contractor had paid his workers after receiving 23 payments himself, he might have avoided all this. Too greedy to do that, just as the contractor on the road works did when an unpaid worker dug up a mile of the road.
The tribune can now launch an investigation into how many other contractors are guilty of this fraud and report it. Is that too much to ask, you think?
Cas0072 9 years, 8 months ago
Moxey is the only person who is actually being held accountable for his criminal actions. That does not absolve Hannah of his own actions. This man clearly has no remorse. He will find the money to rebuild if the government "re-engages" him? He should find the money regardless and he should be banned from working on any future government projects.
luvsnest 9 years, 8 months ago
How is it possible that the building cost would go up more than 100% within one year.from $2.6 million to $5.5 million in one year. Vat of 7.5% on $2.6 million is $195,000.00 +$2.6 million = $ 2,795,000.00. - $5.500,000.00 = $2,705,000.00 difference in one year. The reason why this is to hide the $2.6 million Mr Hanna has to pay back .$2.6 million for Mr Hanna $2,900,000.00 to build the building back.We need to get, bids from 3 contractors to show the public where the money is going. Even so, we should not have to pay vat or inflation that should be the responsibility of the contractor. God help us !!!!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
NO!!! In no uncertain terms *NO. I do not want this contractor anywhere near the BAMSI site. What will happen the next time he can't pay his workers? Will someone burn all the buildings down? No, pay the people their money and let a reputable firm with 15+ years experience handling large construction projects handle this. Your quote if 5.5 million is UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 8 months ago
Hanna's commitment to rebuild the fire damaged facility for free is only as good as a simultaneous undertaking from the government to never again grant him a government construction contract. Otherwise his generous "free" offering will simply be nullified via a back door of future government construction contracts granted to him that will be highly padded. Does that pudgy fella they call Brave with the short stubby grubby dirty sticky fingers think we are fools! We all know just how well connected Hanna is to Christie and the PLP......for every dollar of construction work Hanna gets from Christie, nearly 20 cents is funneled by Hanna back to the PLP as financial support and/or campaign contributions as agreed with Christie's political apparatus before the contract is signed.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
And why are we building bigger dorms when we can't even hold 50 students?what is the rationale and who made that decision?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
Wait a second is the man who couldn't pay his employees, who made up a fictitious insurance company and gave that name to the Bahamian people, telling us Dr Minnis planned all of this? Guess what, let's assume Dr Minnis did plan all of this, if you had lived up to your signature on a legal document you wouldn't have to look for anything anywhere, the insurance company would have been on site the next day.
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
Comrade Lord Jesus, we give you our thanks for letting the light to shine as bright as da BAMSI flames in da House of Assembly, so that, all natives does finally get's sees, that behind the PLP's "BAMSI "contractor Audley. is a cabinet stacked with a PLP Prime Minister/Finance Minister, a DPM and a Minister of "How Could We Possibly Forget The Spending Of -1 Million Of Taxpayers Dollars On Importing 4,000-5,000 Lime Trees From Abroad,"da Honurable V.Alfred. Amen. I said, Amen, cuz this stuff could never be made-up like they does with political propaganda.
My only question is. What will be the Attorney-General's role, if any, play in BAMSI, and I am not talking about, just a 'small fish not paid whistle blower' worker, now the alleged arsonist?
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
Jesus is a Comrade too? I want a t-shirt, but change last piece to "Ta Da - Bahamas Carnival Headliner"
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
Comrade i think you think I make stuff up? Jesus is refereed to in da bible as "Comrade." Yes, I might consider a website, once Madame Tribune Publisher. Eileen does orders me kicked-off, for my being a "too damn blunt" blogger. My niece is all ready provide me with a team from her university webs mart classmates, to make sure it exceeds the poor quality of Carnival 2015's webpage.
John 9 years, 8 months ago
The credibility of these people is incredible. We the taxpayers are paying two and three times for everything this government does. Maybei they need to sit on their hands until 2017
Sickened 9 years, 8 months ago
Nigga there is no way you can rebuild that dorm while in Fox Hill!
John 9 years, 8 months ago
In a cell with Brave Davis et al
themessenger 9 years, 8 months ago
Mr. Hanna noted that the man accused of the arson attack, Dave Dion Moxey, 50, is a relative of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis. “This is a lot deeper that y’all realise,” Mr Hanna said. Is this man seriously suggesting that the Leader of the Opposition might have had a hand in the arson attack on BAMSI to gain political mileage?? Mr. Hanna, you are right on one count........you're in this shit a lot deeper that you realise!!
EnoughIsEnough 9 years, 8 months ago
at the end of the day we are probably all distantly related to each other so the fact that the arsonist is related to Minnis is neither here nor there. he's probably related to Christie and Davis too. Who cares. Criminals should be prosecuted. Hanna should NEVER be permitted to build again and I would love to know who the next idiot is who hires him for a job. Moxey and Hanna and Davis and crew should be charged and imprisoned. Stop trying to shift the blame. Let's put this out to bid. what about prefab buildings? they are cheaper, quicker to put up and are now made to withstand cat 5 hurricanes.
Cobalt 9 years, 8 months ago
It's funny listening to everyone complain about the deceitful, dishonest, incompetent, unaccountable practices of the PLP.
Yet you all are the exact same ones who voted them into power. So stop voicing your annoyances and expressing your dissatisfaction. Bahamians are getting exactly what they voted for.
Sickened 9 years, 8 months ago
Fact: The majority of people who vote for the PLP are: 1) incapable of reading, let alone understanding, this article; 2) cannot afford to have internet access, and 3) are too ignorant to care about the issue of corruption.
John 9 years, 8 months ago
I disagree with you fully. A lot of young people who support the PLP are tech savvy. They are politically aware and they do have a social conscience. They are the ones who feel more let down and betrayed by their PLP leaders, especially when many of them are not working and cannot find a job and are in hard times and they hear how many millions of dollars are being mismanaged and misused and squandered by this PLP government. They will be the ones with the most valuable vote come next election. And if they decide to swing their vote against the PLP "it over"!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
Who is "you all". I don't vote for any "party" and I hate foolishness. I had such poor choices one election I didn't know what to do in the voting booth. In the end I spoiled the ballot. So these clowns aren't anywhere because of me, they're there because of people who think no money is dirty, see how good God is? He's using the riches of the wicked for our good. I take that money rolled up in that campaign tshirt and I pay my light bill, all I had to do was vote for them I never had so much free Kentucky in my life. Own it....those are the people who gave the country away
DEDDIE 9 years, 8 months ago
Actually, the contractor should be given the opportunity to rebuild. Most government contracts are profit laden.He most likely can build at half the cost provided that he charge cost. If another contractor is engage the Government will have to pay cost plus huge profit.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
You are operating under the assumption that he is competent. He has proven to be anything but. You can rest assured that by the time he would have finished that building the costs would have ballooned to 10 million we will save NOTHING by hiring incompetents
EasternGate 9 years, 8 months ago
Prime Minister Christie admonished Parliamentarians about using incendiary (no pun intended) language in Parliament. One day later a decorated PLP General is trying to blame Hubert Minnis for the BAMSI fire!
asiseeit 9 years, 8 months ago
I call bullshit! This man will be given many more contracts by this gangster government at vastly inflated prices as to cover any and all costs. Bahamians will sit back and do NOTHING. What a bunch of sheep being led to slaughter. Fools!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
Maybe not, this seems different. Maybe because there's no pretty building or nice new roads to pacify the people... Seems different
birdiestrachan 9 years, 8 months ago
Now I find it very interesting that the man in custody for setting the BAMSI building on fire is related to Dr:Minnis.
asiseeit 9 years, 8 months ago
Grasp at straws there birdie. You are a smart woman but you most certainly make yourself look stupid. This gangster government has proven itself corrupt yet you want to make excuses for their behavior. You sound just like the convicted murders mother, "not my good son". I also love your twisted logic that if the FNM did something wrong then it is OK for the PLP do something wrong, kindergarten morals. Your country is being destroyed by the very thing you love, I hope you realize this before it is too late. This country would be better off if people like you , on both sides, would just be honest with themselves and call a spade a spade.
John 9 years, 8 months ago
Can we all just get along the burnt building will create more jobs more employment and increase the national debt
duppyVAT 9 years, 8 months ago
AUDLEY HANNA SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY BACK EVERY RED CENT HE GOT FOR THE DORM BUILDING AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT LIST OF CONTRACTORS ................. THAT IS THE HONORABLE THING TO DO
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 8 months ago
Agreed
bahamama 9 years, 8 months ago
My fellow Bahamians: Please, PLEASE, stop dragging politics into everything. I am so sick and tired of hearing about how the PLP did this and the FNM did that. The fact of the matter is, the government is corrupt no matter WHICH party you are talking about.
Audley Hanna did NOT have insurance when he said he did, point blank. That is a white collar crime if I ever heard of one. While I do not condone vandalism of any kind, I can understand why Dave Dion Moxey would do what he did; he was not getting paid.
If there's one thing we want more of is employment opportunities. But what's the point of having a job if you're not going to get paid for it?
Also, Hanna's claim of rebuilding that dormitory for free, quite frankly, terrifies me. He lied about insurance and is not paying his employees, where is he going to "find [the money] if it becomes necessary"? If he wants to correct his mistakes, he needs to pay that money back. And the government needs to hire a competent, honest contractor, if there is such a thing...
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