Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Gov’t didn’t select contractor for Sports Complex AC project

Gov’t didn’t select contractor for Sports Complex AC project

Deputy Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has hit out at claims that the government overspent by more than $300,000 on a contract for air-conditioning works for the multi-purpose sports complex in Road Town.
The claim made by Opposition Leader Marlon Penn suggested that a contractor had put in a bid that was $300,000 less than the bidder who won the project with a $786,000 proposal. But Penn said the lower bidder was essentially overlooked because of a procedural error in his bid.

Dr Wheatley rubbished those claims, calling the statement by the Opposition Leader ‘ridiculous’.

“It gives the impression that somehow or the other, we the government gave the contract to the contractor,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Deputy Premier disputed this and said the contract was executed in a transparent manner through the Central Tenders Board.

“It was a completely transparent tender process and we had nothing to do with it, in fact, when it came to Cabinet, we didn’t even have a choice to make, because it was only one person there because the other contractor was disqualified,” Dr Wheatley added.

He said he never mentioned any details of why the contractor may have been disqualified and noted the tender board made their own recommendation and Cabinet made a decision in line with this recommendation.

The Deputy Premier also acknowledged that there may have been two different prices quoted for the project, but said one price was for refurbishing the system while another was for replacing the system.

He said if someone was refurbishing a system, they could do so for a lower price.

The Deputy Premier further said that it was not for legislators to turn one contractor against another, or even to suggest that one contractor is of lesser quality.

He said it was also unfair for persons to cast aspersions on the character of the Central Tenders Board since it comprised persons who take their job seriously as it pertains to following procurement rules.

“Nothing they did was out of line with the procurement rules that we have, the financial management regulations and law. They do what they have to and they are serious about it,” he stated.

The contract was awarded in December and is expected to take six months to complete.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×