REMARKS BY MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS HONOURABLE MARK VANTERPOOL AT
CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY WITH G-UNIT CONSTRUCTIONS AND JUNIOR MATHIAS
Premier’s Conference Room
January 7, 2016

Greetings....

I am pleased that the Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Ministry of Communications and Works, is able to continue rehabilitation works, to repair damage caused to the Territory's roads in 2010, as a result of Tropical Storm Otto.

Using the expertise of local contractors, we have already successfully completed a number of these projects.

In March 2013, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), approved $15,670,000.00 to carry out these rehabilitation works.

To date, we have executed contracts for Engineering Consultancy, Planning Regulations and Construction Works, amounting to $6,120,047.47.

Today, we are here signing the first contract for the New Year 2016.

I am very happy to note, that we continue to use local contractors to execute these works and I am even more pleased to see, that our local contractors, are teaming up to undertake these infrastructural development projects.

This speaks volumes for your commitment to working with the Government and own a stake in the development of our Virgin Islands.

I extend congratulations to the joint venture company of G-Unit/Junior Mathias, for being awarded this contract, which is valued at $669,022.02.

G-Unit/Junior Mathias will be responsible for works at Nottingham Estate, which include the installation of retaining walls and slope stabilization.

This marks the eighth contract to be executed under the infrastructure Rehabilitation Loan Project.

I am looking forward to seeing the remaining works completed, to the benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands.

There are three tender packages going through the National Competitive Bidding process, via the standard local procurement procedures:

1. Horse Path - Drainage Solution with Road Stabilization and Rehabilitation
2. Windy Hill - Slope Stabilization and Drain Construction
3. Greenland - Drainage Solution and Road Rehabilitation Tender.

One project is in the final stages of the design phase, namely;

1. Harrigan Estate - Slope Stabilization and Road Restoration.

As we continue, I wish to thank all of the parties involved in carrying out these projects, including the teams at the Ministry of Communications and Works, the Ministry of Finance and certainly my colleagues in the Government for their support.

I congratulate all of the contractors, in particular today, G-Unit/Junior Mathias, for winning the bids and executing the projects professionally.

I expect that we will continue to get value for money.

Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen.