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- GOVERNMENT SIGNS CONTRACT FOR ANOTHER PHASE OF THE
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
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- Chief Minister and Minister of Finance the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal,
Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable Alvin Christopher and
Mr. James McArdle, Chairman and Managing Director of J. McArdle Contracts
Ltd. of the United Kingdom, on Monday January 17th signed Phase 1A Package
2 for the
- Beef Island Airport Development Project.
-
- This package covers the landside infrastructure - the roads, car parks
and utility services. The signing of this contract follows a similar ceremony
held December 6th, 1999 for the new terminal and cargo buildings, to be
constructed by Norde France Enterprises Ltd.
-
- "This contract has been the subject of prolonged evaluation and
debate to ensure that as much work as possible is placed with local contractors,"
said the Chief Minister. He said this desire has been balanced by the need
to satisfy the government that the work will be completed on time, to the
highest degree of quality and at an acceptable cost.
-
- "I am pleased to confirm that the appointed contractor has agreed
to place more than 80% of the work with local
- contractors in the civil engineering, mechanical and electrical services
sectors," he stated.
-
- Very recently, there has been much criticism levied against the public
tendering process. The Public Tenders Committee has been charged with unfair
and biased practices adverse to local participants. However, the Chief
Minister has expressed confidence in the process.
-
- "The entire public tendering process is very important within
the realm of our country's development and in my estimation has come a
long way as regards the level of professionalism and confidentiality with
which tenders are treated," he said. However, he promised to initiate
a formal investigation into the process. "I fully expect that the
findings will support that the precedented rules and procedures are fair
and equitable to all tenderers; that in this particular instance, every
consideration was given for maximum local participation and will return
to the
- Public Tendering Committee, the level of integrity which I know surrounds
the work conducted by the members who so diligently give of their time
and expertise," Chief Minister O'Neal declared. He said he looked
forward to the effective management and completion of this contract and
also to site management providing useful guidance to the development of
management skills to the benefit of their local associates.
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- The contract will start on site immediately and is scheduled for completion
in July 2001, at the same time as the terminal building. The effective
implementation of the project is now the subject of the Ministry of Communications
and Works. The Chief Minister reposed confidence in the Minister and his
team and thanked
- everyone involved in working on the Airport Development Project to
date, including the five landowners with whom government has had to negotiate
for lands to facilitate this project.
-
- Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable J. Alvin Christopher,
a former contractor, said government stands firmly behind the Officers
of the Public Tenderers Committee and all others involved in the preparation
of this contract. "As always, whatever is done by the Department,
we believe that information
- that was presented to us was above board and a decision was taken."
-
- Labelled "The Action Minister", he pledged to do everything
in his power to ensure that this project proceeds and is completed on time.
He said he looked forward to a good working relationship with the contractors
and all the other officers involved. "The people of this territory
deserve the benefits that this project would deliver to this territory."
-
- Speaking on behalf of his company, Mr. McArdle said they were very
pleased to have won this contract and their aim is to get it done on time,
"which we guarantee you we will do." He said they would attempt
to complete the project earlier than the target completion date and he
confirm that McArdle Contracts Ltd. will
- indeed be using local contractors.
-
- "It has been our intention because I know the way of the islands:
where you make the money, you should also spend it back there," he
stated. The contract sum is in the amount of US$4, 591, 856. 12. McArdle
Contracts
- Ltd. has been based in St. Thomas for the past ten years and has also
worked in Barbados and England.
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