By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE government has commissioned an independent report into Urban Renewal’s Small Homes Repairs project, according to Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis.
The report was commissioned as a result of “areas of discrepancy” in Auditor General Terrance Bastian’s report on Urban Renewal 2.0 and was conducted by a consultancy firm with expertise in the field of civil, structural, environmental engineering; project management and quantity surveying.
The revelation was contained in Mr Davis’ planned contribution to the 2015/2016 budget debate. His speech was released to the media on Wednesday night, however Mr Davis moved the vote for an abrupt end to the debate instead of giving his speech.
However, in that communication, he pledged to table both reports at some point in the House of Assembly.
Mr Davis insisted that the government was getting value for the money spent to repair more than 600 homes throughout the capital, pointing to the economic boost in urban communities. He estimated that some $5.5m had been spent on the programme during this fiscal period.
Mr Davis said some 400 contractors have been engaged to repair houses and have employed over 1,000 trades persons.
Mr Davis said the Urban Renewal Commission had been given a new mandate to provide basic essential indoor plumbing to any home slated for repair.
He added that the government was very satisfied that the programme had realised its objectives.
Mr Bastian’s scathing report found a litany of concerns and weaknesses related to the Small Home Repairs project’s management and expenditure.
The audit revealed that 11 contractors were paid more than $170,000 for small home repairs that were “not completed or done”.
The report also noted that there was no competitive bidding for the home repairs contracts and the contractors were not required to have proof of all-risk insurance.
The document was leaked to the media earlier this year and has not been tabled in Parliament. The Public Accounts Committee used the report as part of its investigation into Urban Renewal.
In early April, Urban Renewal Co-chairs Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and Algernon Allen refused to appear before a scheduled hearing with the Public Accounts Committee concerning the specifics of report. Their refusal was ultimately supported by House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, who ordered the PAC to “stay its hand” regarding the probe until the audit had been tabled in Parliament.
In seeking legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General and others, Dr Major explained that he was informed that while the PAC possesses the power to send for persons, papers and records, the committee is only allowed to do so by way of a resolution in the House of Assembly. It was also advised that the PAC is confined to examining only documents that are tabled in Parliament.
Comments
Economist 8 years, 10 months ago
He said a new report. He did not ask for another audit.
The mandate for the report won't follow the steps that have to be taken by the auditor.
Audits follow internationally recognized procedures.
Mandates are created by politicians to give them what they want.
So we know that this will be a complete white wash and cover up the truth.
Sickened 8 years, 10 months ago
Let me guess, Davis will be preparing this independent report himself (just to make sure the numbers add up accordingly to PLP math). What a piece of nanny this guy and party is. They might as well dissolve PAC and let Davis 'audit' the government.
TalRussell 8 years, 10 months ago
My Dear Comrades, PLP's included, I have never blogged on these hereto Tribune pages as an alarmist but with each so undemocratic step being taking by this PLP Cabinet, I must report we are becoming a nation at risk - making citizens to ask how great the risk to wait until 2017? How do we not wait whilst respecting and protecting nation's constitution on the tenure of elected government? How can you ask citizens to respect nation's instruments of government when the PLP demonstrates such a complete disrespect? Comrades I am not angry, I am concerned. They seem not notice crime gone crazy but maybe that's cuz Cabinet ministers have admitted to packing pistols and they travel around with taxpayers policeman's bodyguards, we the people don't. I can we trust this PLP cabinet to lead us until 2017?
banker 8 years, 10 months ago
We are on the slippery slope to a total loss of democracy. Once the AG finds that she can circumvent the law with a fictitious legal opinion, and that there are no consequences for running roughshod over democracy, then the violations of our democratic rights will become more and more egregious, until every act becomes criminal, including fixing the next general election.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 10 months ago
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B_I_D___ 8 years, 10 months ago
I guess they need a 'new' report on BoB...since they just fired the last consultant they had working on a report for them, when the report took a negative tone they canned him. PLP don't like to hear the truth and be shown for what's REALLY happening. They want a report that's going to blow sunshine up people's arses and make them appear to be doing a great job.
Economist 8 years, 10 months ago
Tal you have a very good point.
newcitizen 8 years, 10 months ago
What a joke! Corruption has been uncovered by an audit done by the exact people put in place to discover this sort of thing, and now they are spending tax payers money to buy another report from a private firm to say they did no wrong. Can they not see how bad this looks? Are they so willfully blind as to think they can just steal in broad daylight? Are we, the people so willfully blind as to let this happen?
B_I_D___ 8 years, 10 months ago
Sadly...yes...
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago
What the.... They spending more money because they don't trust the same man that they just used to investigate the 52 week job program?
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago
I wonder if this report will use the "new math" from that dumb man who suggested that we will create our OWN formulas to calculate unemployment because we don't like what the globally recognized formulas are telling us about the state of unemployment in the country.
duppyVAT 8 years, 10 months ago
We need to get rid of politicians like Brave Davis asap .................. he is a dangerous man
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