Britsih Virgin Islands<\/p>\n
As the BVI continues to deal with another round of battering on roadways across the territory, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock has called for the government to improve the Procurement Act so roadways can be fixed in a timely\u00a0manner.<\/p>\n
Within the last 48 hours, the territory experienced more than four inches of rain that has further gutted roads and damaged utility infrastructure in several communities.<\/p>\n
Willock, who has been speaking on issues affecting the Third District, made a Facebook post which said the district has been hit hard with heavy flooding at Pockwood Pond, blockage of the Ghut in Nibbs Estate, and heavy debris on the roadways in many areas throughout the community.<\/p>\n
Willock also used the opportunity to call for improvements in the Procurement Act, which dictates how the government hires contractors for projects, including emergency road repairs needed after heavy rains.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know both our District Representative, Honourable [Julian] Fraser, and the entire government is aware that another look needs to be taken at the Procurement Act to bring much more flexibility to works before, during and after these kinds of disasters,\u201d Willock said. \u201cIt\u2019s not possible\/practical in most instances to get three estimates when homes, businesses, roads and lives are at risk and have to remain so while the wheels of government turn slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2021 Commission of Inquiry (COI) report found that there was no public tendering in roughly two-thirds of government contracts issued between January 2019 and April 2021.<\/p>\n
The law has since been changed to make\u00a0procurement more transparent, but legislators have been complaining about it since then, saying the\u00a0new law makes it harder to get vital projects completed, further adding to the frustrations of the general public.<\/p>\n
Recently, D8 Representative Marlon Penn has bemoaned the cumbersome procurement process used by the government, stating that there is a growing number of businesses that are choosing to not work with the government.<\/p>\n