“Pattern Of Secrecy, Lack Of Transparency”
[Updated] “The announcement by WEDCo that two non-Bermudian firms have been awarded contracts that combined are allegedly as much as 50 million dollars without an open tender, follows the OBA pattern of secrecy, lack of transparency and failing to provide equal and fair opportunities to Bermudians,” MP Wayne Furbert said today.
Mr Furbert said, “With the awarding of these contracts to non-Bermudian companies, millions of dollars are likely to flow out of Bermuda. In contrast, local companies would have pumped this money back into our economy, directly and positively benefiting Bermudians.
“There are serious questions surrounding the awarding of these contracts:
- Why wasn’t there an open tender process in place for these multi-million dollar contracts?
- How many companies bid on these contracts?
- Where is the list of Bermudian and foreign companies that tendered?
- What were the prices received?
- What process was used to select contractor?
“The best process for awarding contracts is one that is open, transparent, gives value for dollar and has maximum positive impact on both our economy and Bermudians. Secrecy and lack of transparency is unlikely to benefit Bermuda or Bermudians and is more likely to end in tears.
“We call on Ministers Gibbons and Cannonier to end the secrecy, stop the lack of transparency and come clean on the details surrounding the awarding of these contracts to two non-Bermudian companies,” concluded Mr Furbert.
Update 8.32pm: WEDCo said the “preferred” bids were from R.A. Murray and Jay Cashman Inc.
R.A. Murray’s website lists them as based in Canada with previous experience in Bermuda, and Jay Cashman Inc’s website indicates they are a U.S. company.
The statement, which was attributed to WEDCo Chairman Raymond Charlton and General Manager Andrew Dias, said the total budget is $39 million.
The full statement is below:
As the community is aware the West End Development Corporation has been engaged in delivering a Land Reclamation in the South Basin which will be the host venue for the 2017 Americas Cup.
Earlier this year the ACBDA became the construction manager for this project as this project is critical to the success of the 2017 Americas Cup and is where we will see the Americas Cup Village.
The total budget for the delivery of the Land Reclamation which includes the recently installed bridge and the realignment of the approach to the bridge is $39,000,000.00
WEDCo recently released two tenders for the completion of the walls and infill. The first tender was for the Pile walls/Capping and placement of fill. The second tender was for the supply and delivery of imported fill. Initially the area was to be filled with dredge material from the North and or South Channel and shortfall made up with additional aggregate.
Upon further analysis taking in consideration: environmental impact, engineering assessments, time and costs it was determined that the entire requirement should be imported.
I am pleased to report the results of the tenders:
Tender 1 was released on May 01st and closed on June 08th, 2015. 15 companies collected bid documents and 3 bids were received. The tenders were evaluated using a matrix where 50% was weighted for quality and performance and 50% was financial. After reviewing each tender the result of the preferred bid was that of Jay Cashman Inc.
Now the selection has been made a further Value Engineering process will be conducted to ensure the project will be delivered within the total budget before final contracts are executed.
Tender 2 was released on June 08th and closed on June 29th. 12 companies collected bid documents and 3 bids were received. The tenders were again evaluated using a matrix where 50% was weighted for quality and 50% on finance. After reviewing each tender the preferred bid was that of R.A. Murray.
Similar to Tender 1 the preferred bidder will now go through a Value engineering exercise to ensure the project will be delivered within the total budget before final contracts are executed.
Next steps are: To complete the final building control permitting process, Complete value engineering process and sign contract and mobilization and commencement of the required work.
Additionally, this project has extremely challenging timelines and logistical challenges as we already have Americas Cup teams in place in the South Basin with other teams expected to set up in the coming months ahead. All of this activity must be completed while maintaining the on-going commercial operations of Rubis Depot, Maxcem and the Cable operation.
WEDCo looks forward to seeing the development works commence as soon as possible. We have been advised that local labour will be employed as much as possible. We will endeavor to keep the Public informed throughout this very exciting time.
OBA could care less about Bermudians
They get paid No Matter what happens!!!
Election 2017 is too Far Away
Only if Bermudians would work!!! I’m a owner of a business and I’m 4th generation Bermudian… Go figure!!
Huh? There was a tender process with over a dozens companies competing.
Look Bie the OBA is doing all the bad things now so 2017 you bies and gals will forget when it comes time to vote. The OBA will not pi$$ off the voters election year.
So please don’t worry 12-6 months before the election they will give you flowers, chocolates, milk, eggs and maybe the Holy Grail
All application sent to the OBA Government will approved…building plans, pitbulls off banned list and workpermits will be passed for all companies. Opps wait a minute they approving all workpermits now
OMG HOLY MOLY we in HELL now!!!!!!!!!!!!
WEDGate ??????
IQ?
Just Asskin, “they get paid not matter what happens”? Have you asked what happened to the $800 million missing in the 14 years spent in power by the PLP!? is the money missing? Or were they incompetent? Can’t blame anyone else, they were the ones in power and spending like there was no tomorrow.
12+ bids collected and only 3 delivered! You got ya answer now Furbert?
$800 million was stated as “unaccounted for” Not “missing” or “stolen”.
Since which the matter has been sorted. Yet people don’t care to get that part of the story.
But say we continue with that path, why hasn’t anyone been arrested or been before the courts. $800 million “missing” would land someone in prison.
The $800 million has since been accounted for by the Accountant General
Your comment that it all has since been accounted for is NOT TRUE!
I BEG IGNORANCE BUT I DONT RECALL THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL SAYING OR PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT THIS WAS ACCOUNTED FOR OR WHERE IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO. PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME
Ok so why would Wayne Furbert say secrecy and lack of transparency when ,in fact, there was an open tender process.? $800,000,000.00 missing or unaccounted for in either case we never want the PLP to handle the public purse again
The money is not missing, its just resting in someones account UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN
Ask Scotland Yard, they investigated it.
If you read the full statement, there WAS a tendering process. In fact TWICE there was such a process.
The update came after my original post
I still stick with my original statement after reading the update
“OBA could care less about Bermudians
They get paid No Matter what happens!!!
Election 2017 is too Far Away”
Why are the people of Bermudian being so passive when things like this happen.
The slanderous statement of us being Bermudians only by mistake should have caused an uproar to have her thrown out of here.
What has happened that we do nothing – WHY are the People so Fearful!
Unbelievable!!
Evidently you could care less to find out the truth, both contracts were tendered. Also there isn’t a local firm that has the equipment and expertise to construct this sort of project without bringing in a foreign firm.
Wayne sounds just like “ybett” or the alter egos posting under the same avatar. What are these contracts that are not in the public domain, just like another alleged 88, that only some know about? At least the allegations are against non Bermudians, and not friends and family. The mere fact that Wayne knows about them shows there is transparency under the OBA. From 1998 until 2012, there was radio silence.
So I await on the OBA supporters to attack Mr. Furbert’s character, then go on to talk about how the PLP put Bermuda in ruins and completely disregard the details of the argument that Mr. Furbert is putting forth.. ho hum
“Tender 1 was released on May 01st and closed on June 08th, 2015. 15 companies collected bid documents and 3 bids were received”
“Tender 2 was released on June 08th and closed on June 29th. 12 companies collected bid documents and 3 bids were received.”
Please could someone elaborate; What constitutes an open bid process please? The above statements would seem to indicate that lots of companies knew about this opportunity and picked up the application documents.
Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good disinformation campaign!
I agree. What is everyone bleeting on about? Tendering process was used. They did not single sourcing the work to overseas companies.
I didn’t even have to wait for the nonsense Mr. Furbert was spouting to be shown to be false. The update came in before I even saw the original story. Absolutely false. One might even call it a blatant lie. I await your response to the corrections to the story…ho hum.
His argument is misstating the facts…it is totally false….just because words come out of Wayne Furberts mouth does not make them true..he should apologize and resign…..it’s fabrication gate I tell you
FabriiGate
Mr. Furbert, where you not the same man complaining when you were on team UBP about the way Berkeley, TCD, Bda Emissions, Dame Lois Bld, Port Royal, Dockyard Pier, Global Hue, and many other contracts were awarded? Now that you are on the other side, enlightened us with what you uncovered?
lol impressive was absolute right what does yoyr comnent have to do with the above argument.
@Know dat, What does @Impressives comment have to do with the above article! They are both just comments, under the comment section of this article. Is this not allowed.
Its simple: more dried terds for the Bermudian people.
Was the OBA not the UBP 14 months before the last election? They had to change the name because the black Bermudians didn’t trust the UBP enough to vote for them. Which I believe was stupid because when the UBP lost to the PLP in 1998 the economy was in good hands and one could find another job in 24 hours. Now fast forward to now because the children of the former UBP now OBA have failed to live up to the election promise. Now what do you think will happen next election? I’ll tell you.
Only 3 types of people tell the truth. Kids, Drunk People & anyone who is mad they voted for the oba in 2012.
As a “diehard” supporter of the One Bermuda Alliance I am becoming quite annoyed hearing / reading articles of dishonesty towards the public from the Progressive Labour Party…Please, don’t let these accusations be true
“We call on Ministers Gibbons and Cannonier to end the secrecy, stop the lack of transparency and come clean on the details surrounding the awarding of these contracts to two non-Bermudian companies,” concluded Mr. Wayne Furbert.“
The announcement by WEDCO that two non-Bermudian firms have been awarded contracts that combined are allegedly as much as 50 million dollars without an open tender, follows the OBA pattern of secrecy, lack of transparency and failing to provide equal and fair opportunities to Bermudians,” M.P. Wayne Furbert said today.
diehard or not, OBA have the burden of proof all the times as the government. DEMOCRACY NO SPIN ZONE . Works both ways always ..
Just like the former, P.L.P.Government right? e.g. “have the burden of proof all the times as the government. DEMOCRACY NO SPIN ZONE . Works both ways always.”
By the way, if not mistaken, the public can retrieve,(up to an extent)any Government information by going and asking?
see impressive comment
Of course. .just need to file a request
Open bid…. or am I missing something. ..
Seems to be the case. Where does the claim of no open tender come from?
It comes from Flip Flop!
Wicked Ppl do wicked things!
Not sure why people object to open tender process…..what is missing
Please take note of the following relevant / pertinent information surrounding Mr. Wayne Furbert’s accusation…e.g. it had been put out to tender Wayne
Tender 1 was released on May 01st and closed on June 08th, 2015. 15 companies collected bid documents and 3 bids were received. The tenders were evaluated using a matrix where 50% was weighted for quality and performance and 50% was financial. After reviewing each tender the result of the preferred bid was that of Jay Cashman Inc.
Now the selection has been made a further Value Engineering process will be conducted to ensure the project will be delivered within the total budget before final contracts are executed.
Tender 2 was released on June 08th and closed on June 29th. 12 companies collected bid documents and 3 bids were received. The tenders were again evaluated using a matrix where 50% was weighted for quality and 50% on finance. After reviewing each tender the preferred bid was that of R.A. Murray.
Similar to Tender 1 the preferred bidder will now go through a Value engineering exercise to ensure the project will be delivered within the total budget before final contracts are executed.
That’s right Furbert,lets hire Bermudian companys like the PLP did when they were Government for big projects! Seems you have forgot where that got us! Nuff said!
see the comment by impressive
I saw it and responded. What is YOUR response to the lack of facts from Mr. Furbert as the article has now been updated.
@ The Truth and Nothing but the Truth”: Oh how soon some people choose to forget…
That’s right Furbert, the OBA are not employing no Bermudian companies your voters don’t even know how to make time and they take a sick day every other Friday or Monday.
Berkeley $60MILLION over budget, Port Royal $20 Million over I believe, for pushing soil around, Cruise ship Pier was over by how much? And then had to be redone! TCD? All contracts awarded to PLP players. Coincidence? Maybe? Wink wink wink
Courthouse.
Another press release from the party of “We had to mislead you” the tendering process is well laid out by WEDCO. Something that Mr. Furbert would have known from the release that WEDCO would have sent to all MP’s in making the announcement.
How are these so called no bid Contracts according to Wayne? Both had 3 bidders according to Wedco. Is this another in the PLP misinformation and smear campaign? There does seem to be a pattern of anti OBA postings, ignoring the fact that this is Wedco, later shown to be false by the PLP. Is there some ulterior motive at work? Sad that Bermuda has been so misused and misled by the PLP for so long in Government and Opposition.
So will any of the large local contractors be involved? If not why not? surely these firms are more than capable of carrying out these projects.
Probably yes,(my opinion) They will be subcontracted out to some local contractors e.g. “WEDCo looks forward to seeing the development works commence as soon as possible. We have been advised that local labour will be employed as much as possible.”
So hire corriea construction and island construction do it and go 100% over budget! Some Bermudians just like licks!
Flip flop, flip flop – whatever Wayne. Be useful and go make us some coffee would you ..
FLIP FLOP has a convenient memory or should I say at times a SERIOUS loss of memory.That foot must taste good because he keeps putting it in his mouth.If the PLP had a proper tendering process I do not recall them EVER revealing the same questions asked as per Mr Furbutt. Viva Las Vegas and lets drink some Cuban rum.
If we do not have the local skill set to complete these projects I would rather pay once to a capable firm than pay over and over for sub par work.A % of work can still go to small local firms managed by capable professionals.Although I do understand food will be bought mopeds will be hired and so on just don’t forget our local professionals?As much people as possible must benefit.
“The first tender, released on May 1 and closed on June 8, for the pile walls, capping and placement of fill, saw 15 companies collect bid documents and three bids received.
The second tender, released on June 9 and closed on June 29, was for the supply and delivery of imported fill — 12 companies collected bid documents and three bids were received.
A matrix where 50 per cent was weighted for quality and performance and 50 per cent was financial was used to evaluate the tenders.”
Unless WEDCO has misreprepresnted the bidding details, can Mr. Furbert explain how these contracts weren’t awarded via an open tender process? Hopefully this isn’t another example of PLP politicaljaculation.
Oh what a surprise, another release from the PLP full of misinformation. They really are making themselves look like fools.
They draw straws weekly to find a Spokesperson to mouth off rubbish and twisted facts. Also they don’t have a mirror to look into, just frosted glass if you get my drift.
And if the shoe was on the other foot, the One Bermuda Alliance would be asking the same questions as in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq_lGdEWuZc
As What Is Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander, No Ifs, Buts Or Ends.
looks like ray & crew came back with an update as 8.32pm last nite
The PLP …never let the truth get in the way…only idiots believe anything that comes out of their mouths….with only due apology to idiots everywhere… sad that Bermuda is always in election mode….but then again there is good money in Bermuda politics as the period between 1998 and 2012 shows……we had to deceive you….
Where was this tender posted?
Why were foreign companies allowed to apply with so many Bermudians looking for work?
Why did Furbert call them no bid contracts? He was wrong was he? Again?
It is called business. Would you select the lowest bid from an unqualified bidder?or just let it ride. Have you ever heard of the word review. I hate to say it but the Bermudian past work ethics ( or lack therof constant tardiness, poor quality, time keeping, “not my job” ) are now biting us in the butt. So yes invite overseas bids. I have no doubt they would hire qualified Bermudians. Yes some money will go but some will stay for various reasons.
Can someone look up in the PLP dictionary and tell what Tendering means it is quite obvious Furbert and his buddies are reading a different version of what i read from Wedco statement ….oh how stupid of me it just dawned on me the PLP book says bids excepted by friends of PLP only
also now get it we need to guy them a new calculator its the same one used to balance our budget how else do you explain his number 50 million and wedcco’s 39 million
go figure
well done green machine you are on a roll don;t stop you just haven’t realized your going in the wrong direction
So in the real world there was a full tender process and oversight, in the PLP world there was no tender of their friends and families.
Wayne Flip Flop Furbert needs to read the wedco statement – open tender, 15 people were interested only 3 submitted bids.
they just pissed they not in power, and in control of this project. Didnt they (PLP) tender Correia construction for the wedco wharf that had to be built twice, wasn’t the tender 20 some million bid and won and then ended up being 60 + million of work, and had to be done again. So that was where 100+ million went missing on an original tender of 20 million. Wayne,study your new party’s past. Its obvious you and desilva are pissed because you jumped ship.
I’m ok with a foreign firm doing this work, if a non Bermudian firm can bring in the equipment to do this work( or sub contract local companies ) and still beat the local firms it seems like a classic case of greedy killing puffy !! As a taxpayer I want the job done as cheap as possible ! Seems like the non Bermudian firm was used to keep the local. Byes honest !! Well done Wedco !
Furbert is like a puppet he only repeats what he is told to and not smart enough too confirm the facts first. There are a number of puppets here too, they can’t handle the truth and can’t accept the contracts were bid on. If there is a Bermuda company who didn’t get the contract let them stand up and tell their side.
Wayne – you’ve either been fooled by your “friends” to push out this garbage, or you are viciously intent on creating mischief. If you want transparency, I think you will find that it makes your colleagues look much worse than they already do!
You all sound like damn fools.
Keep trying to shut-out from the economy a significant core segment of the population.
What will it lead to ??
OBA all the way
The Party is playing you once again and once again you fall for it. One thing is that teu know their support base quite well.
——–
R.A. Murray was used more than once under the PLP to bring materials to the island for projects, Airport Resurfacing project, foreshore works at Castle Harbour for the Landfill, and the National Sports Center. Not to mention the South Basin project was originally developed under the PLP and in 2009 Wedco had originally formed a partnership with Clark International, LLC (Clark Construction), a non Bermudian company, to redevelop the South Basin, however it wasn’t until the OBA brought the America’s Cup to the island that this project even became viable. Once again the PLP propaganda machine continues to spin and spew out misleading information to try and distort the truth.
——-
Bet none of you knew that because PLP consistently operated a pattern of secrecy and with a lack of transparency.
Hahahha.
Great decision, looking out for the people’s money!
It will be interesting to see who is awarded the channel dredging project
@ Ask no questions. Probably the same company who will be undertaking the sea bed mining much loved by the PLP. Hundreds of presently unemployed Bermudians with shovels and picks, plus scuba gear if lucky, clearing the channel as practice for the real thing.
And here we go again. Our (and I say that loosely) pathological cultural mindset of being hell bent in believing that any type of Bermudian labour is inferior to anywhere or anyone else beyond our 21 sq miles needs to be studied. Period. And don’t give me the rhetoric of Bermudians being lazy over exploited foreign workers or foreign workers who get the bigger perks and bonuses. Treat our own properly as well and heck it might yield results don’t you think? Give Bermudians more opportunities and an equal chance (and I really mean equal!) and geez we can build our own empires rather than building others.
As long as the accent is not Bermudian we practically genuflect towards them. This disease needs to be cured now! When does this stop so that we can empower our own instead of foreigners and foreign businesses continually on these large projects? We can’t learn the so called expertise if we are not given the chance. A sick catch 22 that benefits the non Bermudian continually! I believe it should be legislated that all large scale projects must be majority Bdian represented in the first instance. No questions asked. We can do this! We need to start trusting in ourselves more. How the hell do we grow the economy on a short term labour force on short term major contracts with the majority of the proceeds given to a foreign entity after the project finishes which increases THEIR worth stimulating THEIR economies? Hell we have this so a$$ backwards and the less advantaged continue to suffer the most. No wonder our young people are losing hope. OBA are missing these big opportunities to really empower Bermuda as a whole in a major way. It’s so frustrating.
Just want to add my 2 cents here. I along with a few of my friends finished the new berthing dolphins a couple of years ago. We worked with crission construction and half the gang were local. When we finished I know that we had helped and also educated what I consider my new Bermuda friends