Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has added his voice to a controversy surrounding the Roseau River Promenade Project, dismissing charges of alleged irregularities in awarding the contract for that project to George Nanton.
Questions have been raised by owner of ACE Engineering and leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton over the way the contract was awarded.
Speaking on the Next Level program over the weekend, Skerrit said no minister was involved in the matter and the contract was awarded purely on the advice of government engineers.
“No minister changed the recommendation …” he said.
Leblanc, whose company had tendered for the project, has been vocal in the matter, accusing the government of paying 24 percent more than the market price for the phase one of the project, which includes building a wall along the Roseau River.
The project costs EC$560,176.
Leblanc had also published paid advertorials, laying out his arguments over the matter.
Skerrit told the Next Level that ACE Engineering gets contract, “they are happy and they are quiet.”
“The moment they see somebody else have a contract that they feel that they should get, you hear they make public statements,” he said.
The country’s leader also questioned Leblanc’s motive and asked the reason for his silence when contracts were handed to him without a tendering process.
“I want to ask Tony Leblanc and Ace Engineering when they used to get contracts which were handed to them by this government with no tendering process, did they reject it? Did they say, no, let us do a tender?” he asked. “They accepted the contract and they got paid for it.”
He stated that ACE Engineering was awarded the contract for resurfacing sections of the west coast road without tender.
“There was no tender. They did the work, they got paid for it and in this case the contract was awarded to George Nanthan and it was done purely and entirely on the advice of the engineers,” Skerrit said.
When DNO contacted Leblanc, he said he had no intention of responding since the prime minister spoke from a political platform, noting that he preferred the issue be addressed on neutral grounds.
“It’s not a political issue and it is not the first time he has done that,” Leblanc stated. “I don’t respond to things on political platforms. The prime minister is hiding behind a political platform. I haven’t listened to him I don’t intend to listen to him.”
DNO … don’t forget ACE’s gentle response!
I bet the recipients vote LABOR.
a procurement chief hired about 6 months ago why he is one solely has ultimate power awarded the contract after receiving adviser from technical person. Mr skerrit just inform that the proper procedure was not follow the decision should come the Procurement head not from advisers alone
The PM spoke from a political platform according to Tony Leblanc and I suppose the nature of his presentation was “political”. What makes what the PM said more political than what is contained in Tony Leblanc’s paid statement on the matter represented below. “On the heels of telling our police officers, teachers and the rest of the public service that the government is financially unable to increase salaries, the government has demonstrated that it can afford to pay 24% more than the market price for infrastructure works.
How much less taxes we could be paying had there been prudent financial management in the area of public procurement by our Minister of Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit! How much lower could the VAT be on basic food items, energy and utilizes if the government was exercising more prudent and transparent public procurement practices.
Given the public procurement environment, it is not misplaced to fear that savings on government’s expenditures as provided in its current 2014/2015 budget of EC$ 489.97 Million could probably be as much as 24% or EC$117.00 Million.
It is therefore understandable why there is never enough funds to develop, maintain or mange the country’s infrastructure, why there is not adequate funding for appropriate vocational and technical education, why there is not enough funds to pay public servants, why bona fide providers of services to the government have to wait so long to be paid”.
Obviously, Tony was not speaking from a political platform, but his language had everything to do with politics. Just read it properly. Does Tony’s animosity towards Skerrit which is exhibited every so often has anything to do with “big families” in “small village feuds” dating back perhaps generations? I have never heard Tony say anything good about the government of PM Skerrit. Whenever his voice is heard, it is criticisms after criticisms over contracts.
more money for d boys
After reading what the pm said these GUYS are really envolve in. Doing DIRTY DEALS they should be voted out of office
None of my postings on this topic?
I wonder why LMAO
On another note…Can someone tell me why the Government of Dominica is rushing ahead in this hurricane season to dredge the Roseau River and construct the River wall? At this time of the year the ground is saturated so any prolonged spell of rain is going to result in serious flood. These works are increasing the vulnerability of the businesses in the area and indeed Pottersville to flooding.
Does the construction company have any Mitigation Plan in place for a disaster of such magnitude? What about the million of tons of exposed dirt that will be washed into the marine environment by the flood waters?.
Is this part of the development plans mentioned in the budget for Roseau or is this a POLITICAL GIMMICK?
Julie Coco told us about dredging the Roseau river so we can have ships sail up stream with music food drinks etc.
Julie was thinking of good times lol! I doh wanna laugh( only if juliw Tickle me under my platt pie or under my arms.
What are these guys thinking? God aloneknows.
It reminds me of a one time police commissioner who told an officer’s wife who visited him in seeking direct deductions from an officer’s salary for child support.
After her claim and statements to the Comish, it is reported that he told her she had bueatiful eyes and would love to see them under candle light dinner of crayfish & wine.
That’s what Julie was thinking of with his boat ride proposal?
Them man not good nuh!
lolololol
“platt pie” make me laugh.
an that ‘comish’ funny. you should say “it is alleged” so they cannot sue you lol
There is absolutely no transparency in any of our Prime Minister’s activities.
Everything about him is obscure and clandestine, so I am not surprised that this tendering process has an aura of shady dealings about it.
I am elated that Mr Leblanc has the gumption to expose the process for what it is. I only wish more our fellow Dominicans would be as vocal about the current administration’s failings..
P.S. Compare and contrast the P M’s and Mr Leblanc’s language!
Our Newrell Shillingford of was quoted of saying silly things in the USA baseball great Yogi Berea has made many a blopper. But Skerrit’s is serious and there takes the cake.
I declear a laugh@ Skerrit day.NOV 02/2014
Am in disbelief Medard! Are U 4 real?
Are D/cans should request /demand his resignation for being foolish and bold face simultaneously.
Terrific entertainment Mr.PM
Did I just read that? No he could not have said something as daft as this. A P.M? LMAO
One more reason I gave up on my homeland
with dumb-. peeps in the forefront
DNO will not print only if they are bias to the Max.
I dear you to print it.
waiting to read tomorrow morning.
But I won’t be disappointed.
prove wrong be my guest
ADMIN: If your comments continue to use foul language, we will not publish. We had to edit out your language in this post.
Skerrit sounding like Roger Goodell Commmisioner of the NFL for those who are following the news and American football. It doesn’t get better
I think the ‘ACE’ should call a ‘SPADE’ a ‘SPADE’. You can’t beat a ‘KING’ (PM) and two ‘JACKS’ (Minister and PS). NO RETREAT NO RE-TENDER..! …..
(Buju Banton Remix….)
So the PM is saying to us that his GOVT is very dishonest because they were giving contract out without tendering.
Then the question: Why were you giving contract out without tendering Mr.PM?
Answer: Maybe to compromise the individuals to have them on the hook to engage in improper activities.
SO I guess ACE position is…even if you compromised me I am still brave enough to talk about the wrong doing because I delivered your job and provided a fair market price.
Believe me, there are many others who would like to speak about this dishonest administration and are afraid because they are compromised.
I want to ask Tony Leblanc and Ace Engineering when they used to get contracts which were handed to them by this government with no tendering process, did they reject it? Did they say, no, let us do a tender?” he asked. “They accepted the contract and they got paid for it.”
He stated that ACE Engineering was awarded the contract for resurfacing sections of the west coast road without tender.
Really PM. This statement tells me that you guys are engaging in bad tendering practices. You have just incriminated yourself.
Don’t be misled Sierra,
You forgot no law noconsitiution can stop the guy.
He got away with the land transfer ( even if he paid when he was exposed. The bin bobol, he got away he paid back again.
We did not charge him and stripe him and some jail time for a crime against the state.So he got brazen with his no law ,no constitution etc. just to name a few .Now he tells us he deceides who get contracts when and where.
This guy reminds us of NYC in the 70’s with all those corrupt officials witht the Italians business men. and their kickbacks.
Are you a parrot?
Its not every contract that requires a tendering process especially based on cost, urgency or need. If the government has already contracted a vendor for services and they are in need of additional services they can extend or draw up a new contract for that vendor because the vendor has proven themselves and can also do the work withing the needed time frame and budget. People like you are just looking for things t be negative about yet are not objective in your thinking.
@Sierra,
“They accepted the contract and they got paid for it.”
U paka tan noh???
my thoughts exactly
Exactly….the PM expects that when he gives you a contract you must shut your mouth….
“Si i pas ni soutiweh, i pas ni voleur”
Boy too much hardship and politics of hate in DA. Let’s put that aside and find some old time jokes we all can laugh about. What about the story of Ali-Baba and the forty thieves. Let me share a portion of it because I remember Roosie now PM Skerrit use to enjoy it in our old school days. here is the climax:
Ali Baba told his brother Kasim about the wondrous cave. Kasim set off to get some treasure for himself too. Sadly, he forgot the words to leave the cave and the thieves killed him. Ali Baba discovered his brother’s body in the cave. With the help of a slave girl called Morgiana, he was able to take Kasim’s body back home and bury it.
Realising that someone else knew about their cave the thieves tracked Ali Baba down. The leader, disguised as an oil seller stayed with Ali Baba. He had brought along mules loaded with forty oil jars containing the other thieves. Clever Morgiana knew who the oil seller really was and poured boiling oil into the jars killing the other thieves. While dancing in front of the leader of the thieves Morgiana stabbed him. Ali Baba was saved and lived happily ever after.
Related Stories
My two friends I will refer to here as Tony and Ian just asked me to post the lyrics of this song of Bob Marley, because they both have a story to tell. Here it is:
Man to man is so unjust, children:
Ya don’t know who to trust.
Your worst enemy could be your best friend,
And your best friend your worse enemy.
Some will eat and drink with you,
Then behind them su-su ‘pon you.
Only your friend know your secrets,
So only he could reveal it.
And who the cap fit, let them wear it!
Who the cap fit, let them wear it!
Said I throw me corn, me no call no fowl;
I saying, “Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk.”
Some will hate you, pretend they love you now,
Then behind they try to eliminate you.
But who Jah bless, no one curse;
Thank God, we’re past the worse.
Hypocrites and parasites
Will come up and take a bite.
And if your night should turn to day,
A lot of people would run away.
And who the stock fit let them wear it!
Who the (cap fit) let them (wear it)!
And then a-gonna throw me corn,
And then a-gonna call no fowl,
Everything nowadays is politically so you coming to say that was not political is nonsense and you don’t have to tell your supporters, which I am sure includes the engineers to do anything to do anything. They know exactly what to do just to please you!
That is conflict of interest and you or your labour party will be benefiting
Has anyone heard this song? Let me just put out the lyrics of the verse here just so we take our minds off the politics:
You’re nothing but
A liar, a cheater, a deceiver, heart breaker
And I wont let you back in my life
So I’m takin
The house, the cars, the kids, and the dog
I want it all
You’re nothing but
A liar, a cheater, a deceiver, heart breaker
And I wont let you back in my life
So I’m takin
The house, the cars, the kids, and the dog
I want it all
You’re nothing but
A liar, a cheater, a deceiver, heart breaker
@ Itassi too, I love the lyrics of this song. Since I love to sing let me add a verse or two this beautiful song:
Verse 1
I gave my heat and soul to this guy, and yet he saying nasty things about me, but in the interest of the team I just took my blows. He is such a back stabber, that if you sitting on table with him and you happen to turn your back to go for some cold water, he will say things on you too. Help me sing Ian!
verse 2
But when he stretched out his hand to them, they bite him and stabbed him in the back. Join me sing Tony
Ironically the lyrics of the song can tell you what type of person wrote it… a liar a deceiver and a heart breaker. If she’s taking the house the car, the kids and the dog she is the heart breaker and deceiver.
I agree with the PM. If ACE didnt care about tender when they were just given projects just so why do they care now. Just playing politics. Call the elections so labour can win and silence these blind foolish UWPites once and for all.
And the authentic and Neo DLP-ites too lol
I say who can and when they can it.
Not all shall eat all the time anymore LMAO
So skerro admitting now that his government gives contracts without tendering…Are we listening to the man ple he is admitting to breaking the law this man has gone mad.. soo who else getting contracts without tendering skerro?
There are times it may not be necessary to offer tendering to them. Think about this.
Over the top for six!!!!!!!
Zor pas las parle sort
If the prime minister is correct by stating Ace was awarded contracts without tender that tells us Anthony is very dishonest with publishing statements painting this administration as corrupt. What im saying is looks like ACe is very upset that the process was done correct and not in Ace’s favor. I think anthony has created a big problem for Ace in getting contracts from this administration
u must ask the PM to say the full story. If am correct no local company has the capacity to do surface dressing apart fro PWD. So therefore at the time of these works ace was the only other company with that capability so there was no need to tender since no other company could qualify and the works were too much for PWD to handle at the time. Tell PM to will n come again with that statement.
Every time Skerrit opens his mouth nowadays he digs another hole for himself and his administration. Bags the question, either the man is very sure of himself and his capabilities or he has lost the plot!?
Really? What about “king Plagiarization”.You think he doing your party good. Every time there is a controversy.
Now Mr. PM, for your meeting in lagoon… dont come with no airport talk… and how you breaking ground for this project and that… just call the elections
You know, I have been wondering. Is this not a project concerning the city of Roseau and don’t we have a town Council?
Why is the P.M. putting his oar in? I have simple mind that says this should be largely left to Roseau town Council but I hear not a word from them, not one squeak so I’m asking “what is the purpose of having that Council”?
JOJO, why would the council be so deeply involve? are they footing the bill? some of you just talk for talking sake.
The corruption saga continue what is new dno,corrupt labour leader and government,am sure Nathan will be stabbed in the back in the near future by SKERRRO.
So Skerrit is admitting opening that the GOVT gives out contract without tendering them.
This man will expose his entire administration to try and give someone a whipping. He does not care about anyone of the members of his administration.
I would not want be apart of this administration because it means this is a person that will make them all go down at his own expenses.
The ME AND I syndrome!!!!!
So Skerrit is admitting opening that the GOVT gives out contract without tendering them.
This man will expose his entire administration to try and give someone a whipping. He does care about anyone of the members of his administration.
I would not want be apart of this administration because it means this is a person that will make them all go down at his own expenses.
The ME AND I syndrome!!!!!
Tony u need to be more like Peter Augustine if you want to feed your family in Dominica.
Nice one lol!
U got 1st , 2nd 3rd price and the consolidation prices.
DNO you guys need to solve your thumbs up and down issue. This is becoming ridiculous now.
The US State department on Corruption in Dominica:
Dominica does not have a major problem with corruption, although there have been some widely publicized allegations against government officials. None of those allegations have been substantiated in the courts.
Dominica has laws, regulations and penalties to combat corruption, and the government generally enforces national laws. Government agencies involved in enforcement of anti-corruption laws include the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
The country is also party to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.
pm YOUR days are numbered its all over you and all your guys who do your dirty work you may have the power now but soon i will have it on election day
Skerrit your comments are shameful. If you as a government gave ACE Engineering contracts without having tendered the wrong is yours. You have the power to tender or not to tender, so if you decide to hand pick a contractor to do a job for what ever reason you did, this is your decision. The only question you should ask was, the contract that you gave ACE did they deliver. Your silence on that point indicates that you gave ACE a contract without tendering and they delivered.
This does not mean that when you finally tender a project and blatant corruption is identified ACE has to remain quiet. The contracting procedure of the Roseau River wall and the Silver Lake apartment stinks of corruption, in these two small projects you and your lackies are defrauding the country of close to $400000.00 and you believe ACE should remain quiet because you gave them some hush your mouth projects.
I applaud Tony LeBlanc for standing up to you. You speak about technical professionals in the government and you cannot go against their advice, this is crap, since when Roosevelt Skerrit does not go against the advice of any one? Not one of your professionals has ever constructed a culvert far less a retaining wall and you want to tell me that their estimate is gospel?
This Roseau River wall bobol is just an other addition to the bin bobol and the countless others that have not been declared but your days are numbered. How long? Not long! You and your corrupt practices must and will come to an end.
Peter J,
You beat me to it. I was about to quote Medard. How much more can Skerrit’s incompetence can be more obvious?
Did this guy really got accepted and graduated fom a university or was he just one who slipped thru the cracks as he was in the nomination after Pierro passed?
Dumb is dumb but his one takes the cake.
My good friend Parra once told me to be a leader one’s back has to be larger.He could not bemore correct.After almost 3 decades of having been told I cannot agree more.
So when folks complain about respecting the office and persons who hold it I object.
To be my prime minister u have to be more logical than me and this guy cannot hold up a a candle to me Linton or anyone else.
This guy continues to manifest the clown he is.
Isn’t Manthan a relative to one of his guys? The same one who carried Rosie’s briefcase even at the time he died.
It is still a mystery that brief case last resting place.
So mr Medard wheel and come again.
The country’s leader also questioned Leblanc’s motive and asked the reason for his silence when contracts were handed to him without a tendering process.
That’s why he does not want to debate. He cannot look at what he said above Saqway Cooleve.
How can such a being be PM of a country with peephole who have so many degrees and they accept him?
If we continue on that road DA will regress as it is already doing.
We need more able heads.
Why are you self-conceit . Do you think an exaggerated opinion
displaying arrogance can bring merit to your comment.
Based on his own words, the PM agrees that his administration allocated contracts the wrong way? OMG what are we coming too?
I live in Toronto and this is precisely what they are cracking down on- untendered contracts.
They must set a threshold, say $40,000, but anything beyond that should be tendered. How else will they know they are getting the maximum value for money?
Why don’t we adopt best practices in this poor-ass country? They are forever begging larger countries for money, yet the government does not see it fit to stretch their dollar.
I would not want the Canadian government to give one red cent of my tax money to this government given the way they waste it. Skerrit would not spend his personal dollars that way.
This makes me so angry.
Wow, it is very sad when I hear comments like yours, it only displays how naive and little you know about the city and Country you live in regarding the billions of dollars wasted in procurement issues, the city of Toronto and The Canadian Government are not immune from corruption practices regarding procurement for contracts, read and be informed before you make silly comments, stop being angry.
By the way, your description “poor-a country” just shows how silly and unfortunate the choice of words you use to describe your country of birth. Your last paragraph displays so much ignorance, it’s so sad.
The PM is a mastermind,
He has yet to address the issue at hand which is the amount tendered and agreed to upon with mr Nanton is 24% higher than the tenders made by both the Public Works and ACME… instead he makes it a political issue and takes away from the fact that tax payers are being cheated… i sorry for us Dominicans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So!!!!! that’s Mr Skerrit strategy!! He takes a very important public issue and personalizes it to the point of reproach hoping to make the person raising the issue look bad, then he finds ways to make himself look like a hero or to seek sympathy from the people like he was the victim.
I am very happy Mr. Leblanc has seen through this approach and has ask the PM to address the issue from the position of the office of the PM rather from behind his political curtain.
There are so many brilliant people in this country, I wish many more like Mr. Leblanc would do the same.
He tried that too with Dr Pascal.
I see the strategy clearly now.
PM wheel and come again, The old strategy not working.
Why is the PM openly admitting to handing out contracts without tendering?????
Have you lost your mind?
You making de whole world know that you are indeed a corrupt leader.
Now you don’t want people to call you corrupt. You want Leblanc to admit that he is in bed with you ib corruption.
Let that be a lesson to others out there.
De PM give de man company a job then when he gets in a disagreement with de man he telling de man he taking corrupt work.
Like inviting your friend to your home for lunch and afterwards you get in a disagreement…..then in order to look good you telling people that your friend come at your home and was eating stolen food….when is you that steal de food and invited de man for lunch at your house..
Boy my PM not easy. I weed myself of friend like that a long time ago
Did the prime minister listen to himself? I am not sure if he was honest with himself or he was perhaps trying to embarrass the gentleman. It was an admission of public cocomackak. And intelligent and mature response from LeBlanc.
So the PM admits that he has given ACE projects without a tendering process (AKA bobol) so why should I believe that the right path was followed for George Nanthan’s selection (well known labourite). This place is not getting better at all. Broken policies, broken practices. I’m really not into politics, I just want to be able to live in a country that is being run the right way. Why can’t the government do things with transparency?
The PM’s advisors are jokers. Why have him resort to maypwee on a radio program? Instead of making ACE Engineering look bad, the makes the Gov’t look bad with their bobolized way of doing things that the PM is seemingly proud of.
So the pm has just admitted to bad tendering practices. Keep speaking skeritt keep speaking. He is admitting that his government is doing wrong but tries to implicate the ones who complains. You involved so you should stay quiet.
In case you wondering why his ministers stay silent on his corrupt practices, here is your explanation. They are all compromised and the pm knows if they talk they will be implicated. He shows time after time that he has dirt on people. What a shame. This is beyond my comprehension.
Perhaps it was done in the past but now the tendering process has been implemented.
And he should answer the question. What political platform is he talking about. All Ministers will speak on a political platform.
Answer the question!
Kickbacks for election! Election around the corner!!
“The prime minister is hiding behind a political platform. I haven’t listened to him I don’t intend to listen to him.”
What a magnificent scorching cover drive to the boundary for four. Not a man moved!!!
*****WITHOUT TENDERING******
“I want to ask Tony Leblanc and Ace Engineering when they used to get contracts which were handed to them by this government with no tendering process, did they reject it? Did they say, no, let us do a tender?” he asked. “They accepted the contract and they got paid for it.”
………………………………………………
Tony Leblanc , was this statement by the PM correct?
I think it would be helpful if you should respond to this. Because if you don’t then you will lose credibility in your contract claim!!
I don’t know if what the PM said was a fact only you can confirm or discard his statement.
By the way is it normal practise that contracts are given to companies without tendering? Maybe someone who is qualified in this area can respond.
I would be thankful!
-Thanks
Yes where there is no legislation governing the mode of tendering. Anyone/company can select a suitable contractor to carry out a project, this is called selective tendering. However, the competitive tendering
procedure is utilized when a competitive and most economical tender
is required . Now this becomes effective only when a proper and informative set of tender documents is availability for issue . At least three tenderers must be available. The lowest tender may not necessarily be the best . It is only after the receipt of tenders. the evaluation of tenders and a tender report is prepared by competent consultant(s) can a suitable contractor be offered for acceptance.
You see prior to the garbage bin saga, there was not a proper procurement process in place. Thereafter, as a result of the recommendation of the Director of Audit, a more effective procurement process was implemented for awarding contracts to avoid the like scandals that occurred. So it may mean that it was during that time, ACE was being awarded contracts without the tendering process.
This is not a question of a job given to a company but about the selection of the highest bidder over other less expensive bids. The real question is why? The PM is just trying to distract comparing mangoes to bananas.
What if there was no tendering when the job was offered to Mr Ace…. These may well be two different matters.
What if the PM is only trying to find Dirt?..
I am not sure how it is done in DA – But I know that the IADB, World Bank and others award short term contracts with limited budgets without tender. The companies that get these contracts are normally companies that have been vetted by these organization for the work proposed.
What fake people, he made that statement on the radio now it’s in print by DNO which you paid DNO to carry your side, now the PM must go in some special forum for you to reply? what a joke you all hate when the PM put you all closed deals and no one knows, but tries to makes him look bad public, but is five more, the people of DA heard what the PM said so you don’t have to respond we already got your honest answer LMAO.
What kind of English is this?
That last paragraph proves that this issue is purely to stir trouble for the UWP. ACE can’t respond because they are in the wrong.
Thank you DNO for the story. I have a very serious problem with Skeritt, because he is always hiding behind the microphones of kairi radio. What about us that don’t listen to Kairi radio, are we not Dominicans too. Is he going to ask only listeners of Kairi to vote for the DLP. Why is he afraid of a press conference where he can be questioned. As far as he is concerned, Mr. Linton is no leader, but Mr. Linton is always ready, willing and able to answer any question especially those of a political nature.
But I don’t understand you people. Mr. Leblanc chose DNO, Hon. Skeritt chose Kairi. They are both media so what is your true problem?
When Lennox comes on kairi skerrit will go on Q95