PLP: ‘Additional Concerns With Wharf Project’
The Progressive Labour Party has highlighted what they said were additional concerns with the Heritage Wharf project, including the use of ungalvanized rebar, local labour and also the possible removal of a historic wreck from the ocean to facilitate the project.
The $22.36 million Heritage Wharf project is scheduled to be completed in time for the arrival of the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship on May 15th. The 146,600-ton, 1063-foot long ship will be the largest cruise ship to ever visit Bermuda, and is expected to be carrying around 4,000 passengers.
Shadow Minister of Public Works Derrick Burgess asked a number of questions including how much did it cost to bring in the barge and crane, are there Bermudian operators for the crane, are there Bermudians performing specific roles and more.
“After the Minister has answered the above questions, I would like for him to give the Bermudian people the breakdown on the estimated $22 million cost of the project,” said Mr Burgess.
“Lastly, it has come to my attention that a historic wreck has been removed from the ocean to facilitate the project,” continued Mr Burgess. “Hopefully Minister Moniz can confirm to us whether this is in fact true and if the removal was in accordance with the Historic Wrecks Act 2001.”
Earlier this week, the Public Works Ministry said that despite setbacks — including a damaged crane — they “remain confident” that the Heritage Wharf will be prepared to receive the Norwegian Breakaway next month.
The PLP’s full statement follows below:
The Hon. Derrick Burgess, Shadow Minister of Public Workers said that there are more questions than answers with regards to the Heritage Wharf project.
The Shadow Minister was adamant that Public Works Minister, the Hon. Trevor Moniz has been unprofessional in response to the many queries that he has put forward to the Minister.
“It is obvious that the Minister has forgotten the role of the Opposition, which is to hold the Government to account on behalf of the people of Bermuda,” stated Mr. Burgess.
The Shadow Minister said that it has come to his attention that the Ministry of Public Works has deviated from the Planning Code and allowed the use of ungalvanized rebar.
He noted that according to the Planning Code there is no option to use anything other than what is stipulated. I am hoping that the Minister will explain why the Ministry has chosen this course of action as it has never happened in Bermuda before.
Mr. Burgess also noted that the Minister stated in a press release on April 4, 2013 that the contract was sole-sourced. The Minister needs to come clean with the people of Bermuda and tell us how many firms were considered and which criteria was used to select the companies that are being used.
Although Minister Moniz has advised that 75% of the workers will be Bermudian, we have yet to hear exactly how many Bermudian workers are on site at the Heritage Wharf project currently.
I have noted that the Minister has stated that “Bermudian labour is present employed at both the Heritage Wharf site and the South Basin site”, but it is my information that there are only migrant workers on the Heritage Wharf site at present.
The other questions I am hoping that the Minister will answer are as follows:
1. How much did it cost to bring in the barge from overseas? What was the duty charged on this import?
2. How much did it cost to bring in the crane? What was the duty charged on this?
3. Are there Bermudian operators for the crane? If so, how many, and at what rate are they being compensated?
4. With regard to the welding, how many non-Bermudians took the exam for welding and did not pass?
5. With regard to specific jobs – crane operators, 4 project managers, are there Bermudians performing these roles? If not, why not?
After the Minister has answered the above questions, I would like for him to give the Bermudian people the breakdown on the estimated $22 million cost of the project.
Lastly, it has come to my attention that a historic wreck has been removed from the ocean to facilitate the project.
Hopefully Minister Moniz can confirm to us whether this is in fact true and if the removal was in accordance with the Historic Wrecks Act 2001.
-
OMG, can you please go away and let the competent party do their job!!! Where were your concerns the 1st time around?
It’s true, OBA supporters do not question their own party and have now become the zombies…
Considering this was set up under the PLP who is the zombie……
LOL Please man……
oh and for your info as an OBA supporter I am still waiting a revision to the work permit enforcment or something to the effect of stopping tailor made job advertising.
LOL
Temporary jobs do not have to be advertised and, even if they did, Immigration has always had the power to waive that requirement if circumstances warrant.
Transparency ? FAIRNESS ? HONEST ?
Sh!t stirrer nothing more.
The basics here are simple. This was a PLP task they failed to do. The cruise season ended at the end of the summer, why was this not completed then.
You know the answer. Because the PLP were a joke. So they should shut the hell up.
This is so true. We are all getting bored of the PLP stirring their errors.
I am astonished PLP supporters have the audacity to comment here – are you mad? Your party couldn’t organise a pi*s up in a brewery.
Oh Shut Up, Mr. Deflect & Deceive.
You guys screwed this up in the first place.
Let them get on with it and prepare for the ships.
I would suggest that you answer the question of……….
WHERE DID THE INITIAL EXTRA $30 MILLION DISSAPPEAR ???????
Once you “come clean” on this, then ask your silly little questions!!!!!
Are we really going to have to listen to you complain for the next 5 years? ENOUGH ALREADY! You had 15 years to prove yourself and FAILED, now you are in the corner wining like a little baby.
If listening to them complain means they aren’t running the nation, then I’m OK with it!
@ Um Um Like: That is a novel way to look at it. Adopting that attitude as of now!
These are some crucial and significant questions put forward by Mr. Burgess. There should be no difficulty or adversity by the OBA in answering them, as they did campaign on being a government that will be Transparent. SO why such difficulty in answering simple questions, which only ensure that the job is being done well? OBA on the door-step promised they would be transparent, and information would be readily available. If this is true, why not answer the questions? We cannot blame the Opposition for doing its job, and asking the key questions that should be put before the government of the day. We should be encouraging the government to step up and provide the public with information, which they indicated would be no problem pre-election. This job is no huge secret, or is it? We know the purpose of the job and extension of the dock is for larger ships, but there are some blatant and obvious questions that stand out there to be addressed. We must forget about our political beliefs and request that the government stand up and address these outstanding concerns for the benefit of us all.
@ Transparency ? FAIRNESS ? HONEST ?, Thank you for being a voice of reason.
true, but where was the transparency, fairness and honesty when PLP was in charge. Where was the answers to all the questions Mr Burgess is now asking. How and why did the initial project cost 60 mil from 30 mil. Where was the breakdown of that money spent. If they want to ask those questions it certainly shouldn’t come out of his mouth or any PLP memeber.
How many names you gonna post under Special, Betty, TFH (just a variation of your last posting name)stick to one name so there is no question about your bais………….
LOL
Now it’s 15 years LOL
I really have to laugh at this latest plp blast. wasnt it under there government that the wharf was built. how many millions over budget and they have nerve to blast oba for fixing there problem.
its just insane.
Perhaps Minister Burgess should refer to the 2007 report submitted to the Bermuda Government and Maritime Museum which stated that in the case of ships drafts “continuing to increase, or if
sedimentation and scour suggest that the vessel is being undermined, one suggestion would be to excavate and partially refloat the vessel from its current location…. the moving of said vessel would be an opportunity to set up a relatively inexpensive dive tourism and fishing location” http://www.conservation.bm/storage/wrecks/Bermuda%20dockyard%20wreck%20FINAL%20-%20reduced.pdf
Awsome… been looking all over for a copy of that report!!
Christ, they’re like someone who has lost an argument then comes back with “and another thing…”. It’s pathetic.
The Honorable Shadow minister makes these announcements for the few remaining party faithful and not for people who put Bermuda first over party..
It is evident that many OBA supporters are putting party over Bermuda. As your are not willing to hold the government accountable. These questions are important regarding such a major Capital Project. After all the OBA on my door-step promised it will be honest and open and more so transparent. Why not just answer these questions if there is nothing to hide. It seems more like the OBA faithful do not want the government to be transparent and answer questions. I voted for the OBA to answer questions, and put the information in the public hands. I am objective, and want to know the answers. This will than indicate that Mr. Burgess questions are of no real significant or need to be concern about.
Lets move beyond our faithfulness to the OBA only, and get to the meat of the matter, which is to tell us the full story regarding this major Capital Project. What’s the problem with answering a few simple questions, if OBA are as transparent as they told me?
@ Transparency ? FAIRNESS ? HONEST ?, had the shoe been on the other foot then I am 100% these questions would of been demanding addressing by these same individuals. I have long said the idea of party politics is a dangerous one since it breeds blind faith followers (& this is for BOTH sides of the fence).
You are an absolute idiot. This project was a PLP failure, er when did the cruise season end? Here’s a clue, it wasn’t mid dec when the election was won. This isn’t about OBA transparency, it’s about the PLP government not carrying out a promise and completing a project. Sounds familiar??
I have no party allegiance, i just dont like any party bitching about the same things they failed to do or their watch. If you didnt do it while you was in charge, shut up and let somebody else raise the questions who actually cares about the answers and is not just trying to hate.
who arranged to have such a huge ship come here in the first place, it wasn’t the OBA because that had to be negotiated well before they took office, so the same repairs would have had to be made by the PLP. So please can we just get on with it so we can start getting our tourists back into Bermuda and treat them with the respect that we all expect when we travel.
Keep the classroom antics for the classroom
“Lastly, it has come to my attention that a historic wreck has been removed from the ocean to facilitate the project.”
Don’t make me laugh.. This was brougt to light when the Heritage Wharf was originally built. The then Transport/Tourism Minister brushed the complaints under the carpet. Now this fool wants to run his mouth!!!
I guess they don’t realise that everytime they whine about this, it brings back into focus the absolute mess they made of it in the first place. Keep blabbering PLP, then we don’t forget your utter incompetence.
If you recall pre-election certain interest groups such as “BEST” would have jump up and down if this was done by the PLP government. Maybe I was fooled into voting OBA, as now I can see the hypocrisy of the OBA. It looks like depending on who is doing it makes a different as to what is said. I did not vote for this unfair actions by the government, I did vote for change, and this does not seem to be the case. I want fairness and even treatment across the board by both political parties.
I am mystified by this recent behavior of the OBA. Why such failure to answer a few questions, regarding a major Capital project. This is the role of the Opposition to ask questions and query any concerns. Why not just answer the questions? After all on my doorstep they did promise to be Transparent. Was the OBA serious or just wanted my vote?
@ Transparency ? FAIRNESS ? HONEST ?, The core of the political campaign by the OBA was “Change”, not fairness. On this ground they did deliver but maybe not the change people where looking for…..
@ Transparency ? FAIRNESS ? HONEST
you obviously are very naive, this is politics, who the hell believes what any politician preaches to them while campaigning for an election. This wasnt the 1st election held in Bermuda and definantly not the 1st time a party has made promises that they wont keep. I voted for a new direction cause the PLP was sinking us with no plan on how to get us out, not because i believed the OBA where going to be godsends.
Betty Trump… will you stop the lies please? We all know you didn’t vote OBA. You’re just on here stirring the pot just like you do on other sites.
But, I appreciate the fact that we do need to hold the current government accountable and that blindly supporting all decisions is not wise.
Can all of us go beyond party loyalty and work together to get this island out of its economic crisis please?
Well, Gee. The last docks were built by a Bermudian company and thruster walls are falling apart! Yea, let’s make sure Bermudians are working on this one too!
@fred
hahahaha my point exactly
This is how a Shadow Ministers doctor appointment goes:
Shadow Minister: Doc im sick, my chest is tight and its hard to breathe
Doc: Ok. let me run some test on you
(week later)
Doc: Good news, i found out that you have high cholesterol, a partial blockage of an artery and your liver values are elevated. The good news is we can fix this by changing your diet and a few medications
Shadow Minister: There’s nothing wrong with how I have been eating all my life. Now fix my problem , its what i pay you for
Doc: Well i can fix it but you cannot continue to do what you have always done.
Shadow Minister: Says who? I know my body better than anyone. The problem is not with what i eat, now for the last time, tell me how to fix the problem that I’m having.
Doc: Ok you are right, the problem is not what you eat. I am going to recommend you see a Psychiatrist.
Shadow Minister: What wrong with my thinking?
Doc: What’s right with it?
It is patently obvious that people like Burgess,Roban and a few others should do their homework and then speak publicy. Failing that, they should simply exit stage left, they have too much baggage to be effective.
On the other hand, they are good news for the OBA.
oops—*publicly*
I have absolutely no problem wihtt he PLP making any statements as the opposition. It is preferred.
Sensible ones though please. Not the idiocy we have come to expect from their time in government.
you PLP people are so boring and predictable…have some cheese with all that whine Mr. Burgess you big baby. You had your chance and failed miserably. Let get on with the business at hand.
Legitimate questions….as I’m sure the very same or similar questions would be asked if the roles were reversed….I would like to know the answer as well if our long term goal is to save money and get the island out of debt…every penny needs to be accounted for….
Hardly legitimate questions.
Is Mr. Burgess an expert on rebar? On crane capacity? On welding qualifications? Of course not. He is simply intuiting in hopes of sounding credible. Sadly, he does not; he sounds like a hack politician trying to score points.
If the roles were reversed, there would and should be greater scrutiny. This Government does not have the record of incompetence and unethical dealing that the PLP government created during its time in office. To believe that a lack of focus of the OBA is due to unfairness is simply untrue- the PLP earned that scrutiny. The OBA has not.
EW
Creditable Questions or not, the Opposition has the right to answer. Why is it difficult for the Government to answer, if they did say that Transparency is their objective? This is not been transparent and far from being honest.
No. Government has no responsibility to answer politically-motivated, time-wasting questions that have no basis in fact.
Government has provided much clarity as to the workforce composition, the reasons for outside hires and equipment rentals and the overall progress made on the project, both in absolute terms and certainly in contrast to the prior Government.
Responding to a political hack trying to score points rather than genuinely lift Bermuda up is not part of Government’s job.
And I’d be careful about the “far from honest” comment. I challenge you to document an instance in this story where Government has not been honest. If you can’t, then maybe the label is for you, not Government.
EW
More time is being wasted avoiding answering simple questions rather then addressing them. Oh well, so much for the transparency they promised…
Time Shall Tell-
Yes, people on these boards are certainly wasting their time responding to Mr. Burgess’s questions.
Fortunately, Government is not – they have more important things to do.
EW
Half the questions asked the PLP could answer themselves this is their mess OBA is just fixing their mess. When you think about it it’s like the PLP new they had lost the election before Dec 17th and pulled a Bush jr. on the country then whineing about it though their mouth pieces as see here on this thread “Betty you sure you aren’t getting paid for your “Time”……………….
LOL politics I quess secret cybersolders and secret reports bla bla bla….next
You are all a bunch of straight up a$$e$! The dock had to be extended not repaired. Get it right. It shows how you and your OBA are missleading the public. Keep this up and you will ownly be doing five years in that job. Enjoy it while you are there. One hit wonders. Up yours.
So you’re saying the plp lied about the dock breaking too?
Well, kat, unfortunately that isn’t true.
There was an engineer’s report that said there were ‘defects and deficiencies’ in the dock, which meant that prior to the current repair work it was of insufficient strength to safely dock even an average-sized ship in winds of over 20 knots, far below the purported design of 35 knots. The improvements include mooring and berthing structures to give it the needed safety and strength.
And before someone goes on about the ship breaking free in that squall last year; the ropes broke because it was insufficiently tied off for those sorts of winds as the weather forecast suggested calm weather.
Had it been sufficiently moored, we just “may” have seen structural damage done do the wharf itself.
This is a diversionary tactic – Burgess knows that interesting information regarding the former PLP Government’s capital projects will soon be released that will raise more questions than answers about that period.
@ kat why dont u get ur facts straigt. the dock is being repaired extra pillions r being added for extra strength and a lil lenght. u must be a plp zombie if ur atupid enuff belive the eoba is trying mislead the public. one hit wonders i think not. do the rest of us a favor and go take a long walk off a short cliff. seriously idiots like u who blindly belive r the problem.
Had to happen after 25 real comments Kat comes in as the lone PLP supporter…I would say that is about how the Bermuda public sees it…….25 to 1
@Navin Johnson, I vote OBA, but I do agree with Kat, as I have read the report on the docks, and most of what the OBA is saying is mis-leading, and I have to be honest. I also listen carefully to the house debates on the Docks. The OBA are disappointing me, as they are failing to live up to being Transparent and Honest, and while you dismiss Kat, that means your willing to dismiss anything the OBA does regardless if they are truthful or not. I can not support lies, and voted for change, but so far I see little if none !. I can not be a blind follower like you, I will call the government out on things, and hold them to be accountable.
What I have noticed is that PLP supporters do not blog regular like OBA does, therefore you will not see comments from them daily on any blog site. That is just my observation. But, it does not mean they disagree.
Stop lying Betty… you can’t hide that poor grammar… it’s your signature!
Where are they being dishonest? If you have read the reports and listened to the debates list the lies, show how they are trying to decieve. I note that while you say your going to call the government out on things you haven’t actual done it yet.
So the thruster wall was not damaged due to it being, in the contracter own words “it being made to with stand a cat 1 storm”, then we paid to have it removed why? Kat, Betty. All this after the contractor called into the talk shows and explained that it was originally going to be a cat 5 strength and the Ministry said they did not have the money for it make it cheaper….PLP has no credibility on this at all and neither do you as you seem to suffer from selective hearing what else do I expect from the PR (Political Robot) Machine from the PLP to say…………..
LOL
Were is Kat living? Go lay down, u and burgess!
These are some crucial and significant questions put forward by Mr. Burgess. There should be no difficulty or adversity by the OBA in answering them, as they did campaign on being a government that will be Transparent. SO why such difficulty in answering simple questions, which only ensure that the job is being done well? OBA on the door-step promised they would be transparent, and information would be readily available. If this is true, why not answer the questions? We cannot blame the Opposition for doing its job, and asking the key questions that should be put before the government of the day. We should be encouraging the government to step up and provide the public with information, which they indicated would be no problem pre-election. This job is no huge secret, or is it? We know the purpose of the job and extension of the dock is for larger ships, but there are some blatant and obvious questions that stand out there to be addressed. We must forget about our political beliefs and request that the government stand up and address these outstanding concerns for the benefit of us all.
Burgass is talking out of it!
Have the nerve to ask where is Kat living when most of these everyday bloggers are PLP hating, Maggie Thatcher hating expats. When the docks are completed and the ships and cash begin to roll in I wonder if the PLP will be blamed for that. Hmm
Nice to know that anyone that criticizes the PLP must be an expat. After all, no “real Bermudian” would even suggest that the problems with the dock are in any way the responsibility of the government in power when the contracts were awarded or construction was completed.
And as for hating Maggie Thatcher – look at her record and think what she’d have done to the BIU if she were in power here.
Many of these daily bloggers are expats. All one need do is go back to the Maggie Thatcher passing article and see them fighting amongst themselves to know they are. Move on.
So strange though, that these Maggie Haters were so pro union back home but come to Bermuda and hate the BIU and characterize all their members as zombies. It’s just straight up weird and marinated in hypocrisy.
So should we now put in a disclaimer that I am a local with no expat ties inorder to clear that up…….
LOL
No just continue what you are doing. Clears up so much for us.