By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE government will not give the contract to rebuild the fire-damaged dorm at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute to the same contractor, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis confirmed yesterday.

Mr Davis, who is also the minister of works, shot down allegations that the government was again seeking to offer the contract to Audley Hanna of Paradigm Construction. Mr Davis was responding to claims made by Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, who also criticised the government for its “lack of transparency” in the issuance of BAMSI contracts and “handing out contracts in secret.”

Meanwhile, State Minister of Works Arnold Forbes told The Tribune yesterday that the $14m allocated for capital development at BAMSI in the 2015/2016 budget will not be used to reconstruct the male dormitory that was destroyed by fire in January.

Mr Forbes also said the government will make a decision “shortly” on how it will proceed with the matter.

Criticising the government for its handling of the BAMSI problem, Mr Lightbourn said in the House of Assembly yesterday: “Principally no effort was made to ensure that insurance was in place to protect the contractor and more importantly the Bahamian people in the event of a fire. This fact would not have come to light but for the fire at BAMSI, and it is extraordinary how lightly this government has viewed that debacle.

“The fact that they would even consider awarding the contract to replace the building to the same contractor raises more than eyebrows.”

However, Mr Davis stood on a point of order and shot down Mr Lightbourn’s claims.

“The member is suggesting that the government is considering awarding the contract to the same contractor,” Mr Davis said. “From (where) does he base that assertion?”

“If he wants to ask the question, he can simply ask it. He doesn’t have to rely on perception or just what he perceives. If you all want to make it a political football, fine, we will make it a political football. And then rely on perceptions.”

Mr Lightbourn subsequently challenged Mr Davis to reveal just who the contract would be awarded to. However, Mr Davis opted not to do so, instead saying: “You want to know whether I gave the contract to the same contractor, and the answer to that question is no.”

In May, this newspaper reported that the Christie administration has allocated $21m in the upcoming fiscal year for BAMSI, based on information contained in the 2015/2016 budget draft estimates.

According to the document, the Ministry of Works has allocated $14m for capital development at BAMSI while the Ministry of Agriculture has set aside $7m in recurrent expenditure for the facility.

Until yesterday, it was unclear if funding to reconstruct the male dormitory was included in the $14 million allocation. When previously asked, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said the $14 million is for general BAMSI funding, adding that the Ministry of Works will apportion the money.

When questioned yesterday, however, Mr Forbes said: “That has nothing to do with BAMSI. Those monies will be allocated for capital development outside of BAMSI and what’s going on in Andros.”

When questioned about what the government is planning to do regarding the reconstruction of the dormitory, he said: “We’re looking into that now and we’ll make a decision on that shortly.”

The government has been criticised for not being transparent with the public concerning the project in the past. The House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee plans to investigate BAMSI to determine if there were any protocol breaches in the issuance of contracts.

In February, after weeks of uncertainty, Mr Davis revealed that the dormitory constructed by Mr Hanna was never insured.

He had previously told the House of Assembly that at the time of the fire, the contractor’s all-risk insurance policy had lapsed due to non-payment.

This prompted FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to urge the PAC to investigate contracts relating to the project.

Speaking to The Tribune at the end of May, PAC Chairman Hubert Chipman said he is still waiting for BAMSI documents to be presented to the group.

He said he would also question the additional funding allocated to BAMSI In the new fiscal year.

Mr Davis has said it will cost $5.5 million to rebuild the dorm. Meanwhile, Mr Hanna has said that he is willing to construct the facility’s fire-damaged dormitory from scratch, at no cost to taxpayers.