The Roosevelt Skerrit Administration flagrantly violated the Public Procurement and Contract Administration (PPCA) Act 11 of 2012 when it handed the firm NSG of Barbados an eighteen million dollars ($18 million) contract to replace the Roseau West Bridge, construct river defence walls and dredging of the river bed in the vicinity of the said bridge.
According to Mr Skerrit, who is the Minister for Finance, and therefore, the one responsible for proper enforcement of this important piece of legislation, the contract sum of $18 million came from proceeds of sale of Dominica’s Passport money which belong to each and every Dominican.
The stated objectives of the PPCA Act, which are very clear, include the following:
1. “To make public procurement proceedings transparent
2. To foster and encourage broad participation in the procurement procedures by persons in Dominica
3. To provide increased public confidence in the procurement procedures and
4. To ensure that the best value is obtained for the procurement dollar”.
The Act understandably favours the award of contracts through the “Open Competitive Bidding” process because this approach “… on the basis of previously defined criteria… offers every interested bidder equal, simultaneous information and opportunity to offer the works needed.”
The ultimate goal of the Act is to ensure that we the tax payers of Dominica will obtain the best quality of work at the lowest competitive price whenever government decides to go outside of the public sector to procure services.
In seeking to justify the handing over of this massive untendered contract to NSG and further pursue the bad governance path of “no law, no constitution” will prevent them from doing what they want, the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance advanced that the contract was awarded pursuant to the Emergency Contract Procedure of the PPCA Act.
However the Act only supports the emergency tender procedure in circumstances where:
a. The State is seriously threatened,
b. Life or the quality of life or the environment is seriously compromised and
c. There is unanticipated eminent threat to public health, welfare and safety; among other serious emergency considerations.
No such situation applies to this $18 million contract for the replacement of the Roseau River West Bridge.
It is important to note that proposals for the replacement of the Roseau West Bridge dates back to 2000, the year this DLP government came to office. It formed part of a wider project titled “Roseau Road Reinstatement Project (RRRP)”, prepared during the Edison James United Workers Party (UWP) Administration.
The RRRP is a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate all streets, sidewalks, storm and grey water disposal structures in Central Roseau. Implementation of this important project would have transformed Roseau into the most modern and aesthetically pleasing city in the OECS and some might add CARICOM.
Financing for the RRRP was already secured by the UWP from the grant and concessionary funding facility of the KUWATI Fund.
Instead of jumping at the opportunity to transform the whole of Central Roseau, this non-visionary and incompetent DLP government opted instead to seek loan funding elsewhere to build an elaborate State Palace in Central Roseau as its flagship tourist attraction.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the recipient of this massive no bidding contract was reportedly assigned another large untendered contract by this very DLP administration during the heat of the 2014 General Election campaign, reportedly to prepare redevelopment plans for the city of Roseau and the town of Portsmouth, to include the said West Bridge.
Best bidding practices observed by all international funding agencies and institutions specifically prohibit consultants engaged to undertake physical planning and development assignments from bidding for projects proposed in their consultancy reports.
Accordingly, the United Workers Party Team Dominica hereby calls on the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration to immediately terminate the contract handed to NSG for the replacement of the Roseau River West Bridge and associated works and subject the said works to Open Competitive Bidding in accordance with the Public Procurement and Contract Administration Act 11 0f 2012.
the uwp has no plans at all to move the country forward they are unable to raise a single cent to help a child or family since ericka all they are waiting for is some roro on q95 to occupy them for a couple of weeks until some allegations come along what a useless bunch
“There are times that some politicians are misjudged. They are not given an opportunity to do some good. Whatever good they do they are criticized and debased.” (The Madam Facts).
Facts, I always knew you are “dotish, and sot.”
You sot, sot, sot, sot, sot oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
You see that nonsense in the quote above those are your words developed in your feble dunce mind, you so dumb you do not know when you are spewing garbage contradicting your very self!
How you so fool nu?
By the way because of you I going to stop writing on DNO, I going to d all my writing on facebook eh! I following Elizabeth so that I do not have to read dem ting you writing oui!
FRANCISCO,good bye and don’t come back run and hide.
Here we go again the enemies of the state is at it again this set of people just want to destroy Dominica at all cost so call UWP is in a mess none of that lot is worth a penny in today money,Q95 is trying it best to brainwash Workers supporters with all lies ,they are all evil
people trying to bring down PM.Skerrit who is working hard to upgrade Dominica 
I give up, live Dominicans in their commess
By his actions the PM has demonstrated that he has no confidence in awarding the role of general (lead) contractor to a local company. Why?
The UWP has been educating the people of Dominica but we have memwa poul. We the people are not interested in democracy, we do not care about our rights . Just give us a little money and sewo life is good. One day we will all turn in our graves because of our grand and great grand children suffering. Remember we are still talking of slavery and its effect on us.
You are spot on right!!!
Accordingly, the United Workers Party Team Dominica hereby calls on the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration to immediately terminate the contract handed to NSG–News article
There he goes again with his rudeness of emptiness! IMMEDIATELY! Who does Lennox think he is?
When will that man ever come to learn that just because he is the leader of the political Opposition, this does not give him authority to command the ruling Government?
For me this a kind of childish stupidity, which we, in Dominica do not need at all. Does Lennox Linton (and especially him) expect that PM Skerrit will simply stop everything because he says so! How foolish!!!
Îo you have any brains in your thick skull
we need a rebellion against this inhumane approach of skerit administration. dominicans its time for action we are not pleased we are not happy jobs are being given to foreigners whilst our sons and husbands are not earning.. what are we gona do about this… we are fed up of talking .. lets move on ..
Above comment to Dan in the van, My advice to you that tablet or laptop you have is not for watching porno it is there to learn and educate yourself not to write toe fungus crap with i hope that will help.
By now Dominicans should know that no matter what, UWP’s intention is always to oppose the current government.
Dominica is part of the CARICOM and also OECS countries. Why can’t this enterprise be given the contract? The PM said, according to his article which he outlined on this matter, Dominica will benefit from it. So what is your problem? Live and let live!
Your tehbe dunscat.. Why the big bunch of money has to go to Barbados? We cannot get it?? We cannot build bridges? Brainsless labourites you people are dus a genuine set of idiots stupid set of people
Paris astaphan and Leblanc , i am reminded of the three blind mice. these super stars wants the average Dominicans to jump in war for them without stick.
Ske… seems to be going where h.. can get a kickback. Think Ske… stupid!!!
We are what we are, only talkers and bloggers. No damn action. I sold my citizen-sheep long pants. Dominicans are too lazy and incompetent as their leader. All they know to do is talk talk talk.
Are you being sarcastic – citizen-sheep?
I think it’s time we match our rhetoric with action. The JCCCS should take the matter to court. The same way agents of the government can use the Court to get judicial review people who are unfairly affected by the government’s actions, especially when these actions are illegal, should seek judicial review from the Court as well. Stop being cowards, JCCCS and the rest of the society. The role of the government is to protect us not to intimidate us.
Talking is not getting us anywhere anymore. We need action!
JCCS should take all equipment to the site and PREVENT any “construction” from starting……bring everything…backhoes, cats, rollers, tractors etc. (cameras for sure) Enough talking.
wait!! UWP just wake up?this is like late oppositioning….or maybe skerrit was right,they used the JCCCO & paris to launch their ignorance,which did not seem to work to well,so now they stepping up to try and gain political ground,skerrit is giving back because Barbados gave after TS Erika,simple as that case close,try a next political strategy
Help me, what is UWP?
unstable worthless people
Tomtom one day you will feel it in your bambam and U Will Pay.
What has this current UW Party done for the Commomwealth of Dominica? To put it less challenging, what have they done for the constituents they have won? With the limited resources Dominica has and facing an economically challenge world body, this current prime minister, I think, has done more than any other prime minister before him. Lennox Linton is an absolute unknown to world leaders with little or No connections to assist our beloved country, yet I’m reading articles like this BS. Please Mr Linton, where are you going to to assist our country with economic developments?
Lennox and his gang excel in critiquing. He is too busy at it and always at it. This is as much as he has done for Dominica – nothing.
There was apparently a star over the manger when skerrit was born. Know through the world.
You sound like a real idiot..did skerrit have any regional or international connections before he entered politics? He wasn’t even known in Dominica.. Lennox was known regionally way before politic..what has skerrit done to better the lives of the ordinary Dominican from all his international connections? Compare the life style of those ministers before they entered politics and now..compare the lives of the ordinary Dominican to that of the ministers.. what major development has happened in Dominica in the 16 years this labour party has been in government? 12 of this 16 years skerrit has been the prime minister. Now look at Antigua under Gaston brown who had been pm for a mere 2 years..Antigua has achieved more under Gaston in his short 2 years than Dominica under skerrit in 12 years.. Dominica is slowly coming another Uganda where the citizens get poorer and the government and its close associates amasse wealth.
Like the Ugandans most Dominican eyes are closed and will remain…
Da massive,you are the idiot Antigua government do not have fools like Workers party and Linton this is why Antigua chuck him out and pm-Skerrit went over to get him back like a poppy.
@ the fly…typical fool pedalling labour party propaganda..an error never went to Antigua for Lennox..comment on the point that every other caricom island is out performing Dominica.. Lennox or the UWP is not the government..they don’t make decisions that has made labourites into unproductive citizens and beggers..all u will blame Lennox for all of this government failures..maybe the favourites here need to get educated on the issues and do like the Antigua electorate and vote out a government bankrupt of ideas to move Dominica forward.
The act did made allowances for emergency procedures! Ericka was an emergency didn’t she? The world over knows Dominica had an emergency because they all helped. In cases of emergencies you have to use what is available at the time I WOULD THINK. But others must be consulted if available and pay an interest. Yes there was an emergency in Dominica due to Erika
Yes but the West bridge is not part of that emmergency but Petit Savanne is
The man has made is clear that no law, no constitution can prevent him from doing what he wants to do, therefore, what are you talking about, the flagrant violation of the procurement act. He called parliament to change the laws of the IPO just to suite him, the violation of the procurement act is chalk and cheese. The man violated the citizenship act, moving from Frenchman to Dominican to become PM. You want to tell me about the violation of procurement act. The man has been selling more diplomatic passport then rain is falling in Dominica, what procurement act you are talking about. The man’s residence is alleged to have valued approximately $2 million, he had the nerve to inform Dominicans that he resides in a dwelling house cost $400,000, while Dominicans who employ him, have no jobs, not living comfortable. The man has been violating me as a Dominicans, by the corruption that goes on in my country, that is my concern, not a procurement act.
Read my lips, its not what I say, but how i say it. Look at my action, and stop listening to my words.
KUWAITI Fund Please. Get the basics right! Anyway, who is going to challenge Skerrit? They could try an injunction I suppose …if they find a judge, who does not shake and tremble in front of Skerrit and is fair.
What is the real issue here. I am sure its not the bridge. The UWP knows the bridge is a very important piece of infrastructure. The real reason is to frustrate the efforts of government at every turn. The funds for the Roseau development was secured? Is that what I read? Then somebody or group of persons must be some real aweful liars. Because of the very many well placed UWP operatives in very sensitive and confidential positions in government I will bet with the government that there was absolutely no money available in the bank for undertaking the reconstruction of Roseau. It could be that some initial discussion was taken with a funding agency. But that is different to money in the bank waiting to be utilized. That information would have been released on the hot seat years ago just to embarass government.
Why complain the P.M. Is infallible.
Why complain the P.M. Is infallible, his followers must be tongue tied on the bridge matter and procurement policies.
UWP need to stop chasing bones over a basin of water…we all know that story..”.dog had bone in mouth, dog saw its reflection in basin of water, bone looked bigger in basin so dog drop bone because the one in the basin was bigger” guys find a good footing to stand on and stop chasing every roro that pop up…Dominica is crying for stern leadership and presently your trajectory is not pointing in the direction of leadership….stop giving Skerritt nails to put in your coffin.
The idea of withdraw contract is nonesence,You guys should come together and discuss matters for next other projects.Please do not try to slow progress we need this project commence soon as possible before another storm like Erika to come and cause
another devastation in Roseau.
Nobody can discuss anything with Skerrit. It’s either his way or no way!
UWP what’s the point, let us move the country forward and stop the division!
UWP accuses Skeritt of being too happy!!
The man who said that last elections in Dominica boosted the Barbados economy is he on this contract? And if he is then the campaign has started for 2019 in earnest. – Thus that heavy fete on the Friday with the band…..wows!!!
By the way today, May 3rd is Niccolò Machiavelli birthday- the man who wrote the book Prince more than 160 years ago-He wrote- there is no morality among politicians… They should want to stay in power by the hook or by the crook.
There are times that some politicians are misjudged. They are not given an opportunity to do some good. Whatever good they do they are criticized and debased.
This is what some of you do to the PM. In your biased eyes and attitude he can do nothing good. You are not builders but destroyers and of discouragement.
How can you ever expect Dominica to progress and be enhanced? You place a curse on it, all plans for it. You are not helping your country. What patriotism do you have for it? You critics are the ones to be blamed. Shame on you!
Zack, you are somewhat liberal with your dates. Machiavelli wrote his infamous book over 500 years ago, in 1513. However, its observations are as valid today as they were then describing politicians being deceitful and viewing immoral behaviour as perfectly normal and very effective in political machinations and power play. In our case I would bestow the extended sobriquet “Prince of darkness”, even an honorary doctorate on a political leader, who has shown himself a star pupil of old Machiavelli.
“Accordingly, the United Workers Party Team Dominica hereby calls on the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration to immediately terminate the contract handed to NSG for the replacement of the Roseau River West Bridge and associated works and subject the said works to Open Competitive Bidding in accordance with the Public Procurement and Contract Administration Act 11 0f 2012”.
So what is UWP going to do about that? Wait until Skerrit complies with their demand? Come on UWP, man up and show some leadership on this one or just chill out.
This is a perfect case for an injunction, but will the construction fraternity or the UWP have the balls to take action? Meanwhile the B.S continues.
Boy you again with your manifesto. Did you really say that the money came from the sale of passports. Now you are a bigger nuance than first anticipated. I thought that was stolen by the pm. Help him Lord.
And its clear u were hidding under the classroom while school was going on..U have no comprehension of simple English..he was quoting the pm..they ask questions of the passport money since Vince said they raised over 125 million in 6 months.. when the pm stood up in parliament and say he was projecting about 25 million in passport sales for the year..
I wonder if is lennox linton that write that paper.
UWP has a President. Is his name not still Ron Green? They also have advisors. You can bet that Lennox did not write it. He could have somewhat advised some of it since he is always on a critique trend but not all of it.
Get your facts straight insufferable woman. The President of the UWP is Ezekiel Bazil. Even that you can not get right.
UWP, you have proven to Dominicans that you cannot run your own camp, therefore, this will not be given any attention. The people of Dominica needs a new Opposing Party, UWP is a comedy club.
Only now you all are realizing that.
We will all agree that the Freedom party was the most progressive party that many of us middle age Dominicans can comment about. Things are all in a shamble with this party at this moment, but I am urging all past supporters who left and move over to DLP and UWP …and are now unsatisfied with both parties to rally back to the Freedom party.
A new injection of members are required to bring fresh common sense ideas to common Dominican citizens…. increase party membership.
The entire population need re-energizing.
Mr. Linton
Why bother making up noise if your party is not prepared to outline what you plan to do in order to address the issue? Let us assume that you are correct, and the PPA has been violated. So what now.