The Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has confirmed the receipt of two bids for the West End Ferry Terminal Project by the extended submission deadline of January 17.

One submission was made by a joint venture of two local firms, while the other came from a Canadian company. Representatives from both bidders attended the official bid opening, which took place at the RDA’s Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park office. The process was led by RDA Director of Procurement, Mr. John Primo, and witnessed by key stakeholders, including CDB Contract Supervisor and Project Manager Sergio Dantas, RDA officials, and representatives from the design consultancy firm, Inros Lackner S.E.

The bid opening adhered to a two-envelope system, with only technical proposals reviewed at this stage. Inros Lackner S.E. will now conduct a thorough evaluation of the technical submissions, expected to conclude by early February 2025. Following this, the financial proposals will be opened for assessment.

The West End Ferry Terminal, a project funded under the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan (RRL), was once the busiest seaport in the Virgin Islands but has been out of operation since its destruction in the 2017 hurricanes, severely impacting travel and commerce between Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and the USVI.

Bid documents were issued on July 30, 2024, the same day the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) granted its No Objection, allowing the procurement process to move forward. The bid deadline was later extended from October 18, 2024, to January 17, 2025, to give bidders additional time to prepare their submissions. Additionally, updates on the project were provided to First District residents during a community meeting on July 23, 2024.

The RDA reaffirms its commitment to maintaining transparency and rigor throughout the procurement process, ensuring this flagship initiative aligns with the Territory’s long-term development goals.

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards has dismissed the case against former Education and Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn and former assistant secretary Lorna Stevens, ruling there was no case to answer in the breach of trust charges brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The ruling, delivered today, January 21, followed a preliminary inquiry into allegations related to the controversial Elmore Stoutt High School perimeter wall project.

The decision effectively ends the prosecution’s case, with the Senior Magistrate finding insufficient evidence in the arguments presented. The dismissal brings to a close a chapter in the long-running investigation into the wall project, which has been the subject of public scrutiny for years.

The perimeter wall project, initiated in December 2014 under Mr. Walwyn’s tenure, has faced persistent criticism for budget overruns, alleged mismanagement, and a failure to deliver value for taxpayers. Despite more than $1 million spent, the project was never completed, as revealed in a 2018 report by Auditor General Sonia Webster.

Ms. Webster’s report highlighted significant concerns, including contract splitting into over 70 work orders and 15 petty contracts, many awarded to contractors without trade licenses. She concluded that the Ministry of Education and Culture failed to ensure proper oversight, resulting in overspending and poor value for public funds.

The findings of the Auditor General spurred a police investigation in March 2019. However, updates on the case were sparse until October 2022, when Ms. Stevens and Mr. Walwyn were arrested and charged. Ms. Stevens, who assisted with oversight of the project, was accused of breaching public trust.

The wall project was revisited in 2021 during the Commission of Inquiry (COI) led by Sir Gary Hickinbottom. In his April 2022 report, Sir Gary reiterated the concerns raised by Ms. Webster, labeling the project’s management as “extraordinary” and emphasizing the risks associated with the use of multiple unlicensed contractors. He recommended that the police investigation proceed without interference.

“The construction of a single wall involved 70 different contractors, the majority of whom had no constructor’s trade license, in circumstances which disregarded the increased costs and complexity,” Sir Gary wrote in his report. “This inevitably put at risk any desire to get the works completed at speed, as those involved, including [Mr. Walwyn], well knew.”

Senior Magistrate Richards’ findings signal a significant setback for the prosecution. Legal observers note that the court’s ruling raises questions about the strength of the evidence and the strategy employed in pursuing the charges.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has announced a temporary road closure from Windy Hill to Stoutt’s Lookout due to the oil spill and resulting vehicular accidents. The Fire Department has been contacted and is working to address the situation as quickly as possible.

RVIPF has confirmed that three vehicles were involved in collisions however no injuries have been reported.  One taxi reportedly slid off the road into nearby rocks earlier today.

Motorists, particularly tour operators, are advised to use alternative routes until further notice.